A Very Merry Hitman (Holiday With a Hitman #2)

15. Chapter 14

Chapter 14

I think we become whoever would have saved our younger selves.

Dante glanced at the tiny “sandwiches” on French baguette slices, dismissed them. He didn’t want food now. He wanted to punch stuff.

“You need to do something with your face,” Theo murmured as he plucked up a couple mini lobster grilled cheese appetizers from a passing server.

“What’s wrong with my face?”

“You look like you’re ready to commit murder. Lots and lots of murder.” Theo’s voice was pitched low, but it didn’t matter.

Dante and he were at one of the cloth-covered high-top tables near the corner of the room with a good view of most of the exits. There was a glittery red and gold centerpiece that allowed them to use it as cover as well. Not that they needed it. They were here with invitations, in tuxes and blending nicely.

But Dante couldn’t stop staring at Aileen and her date. The two of them looked good together; both slender, with the asshole tall and muscular, and they were both all shiny and polished. Though Aileen was the real star. God, she was gorgeous in that body-hugging green dress and her red hair down in big, soft-looking curls.

He just grunted at Theo, not responding one way or another. He didn’t think Theo knew about him and Aileen and he certainly wasn’t going to bring it up .

“I don’t like how open this is,” he finally said. “We don’t have enough eyes on every possible threat.”

“My mom’s hacked into the security system and is keeping an eye out, along with Sarah in the van. My dad is also running exterior security, and you, I and Elli are all here to keep Aileen safe if necessary. And Elli pulled in some extra help—something you already know.”

Dante simply grunted again. Because blah, blah, blah. Whatever. This whole night was bullshit and he hated that some asshole was here with the woman he loved.

“You sure you don’t want to try these? They’re really good. I might have to try making them later.” Theo inhaled another one of the mini sandwiches.

“I’m fine. But her date might lose an arm. He’s practically mauling her.”

Theo looked at Dante, then back at his sister across the way, then pushed away from the table with an extended sigh. “I’m going to get you some food because you’re clearly hangry. Dude isn’t even touching her. He literally just handed her a drink and—gasp!—I think their fingers touched.” Theo shook his head as he walked away.

And Dante was glad for the silence because now he could watch Aileen unimpeded. But Theo was right—he couldn’t keep staring at her date as if he wanted to murder the guy. People tended to remember stuff like that.

He casually reached up to his ear and tapped the earpiece. He’d turned it off, not wanting the distraction as he scanned the place, but with Theo gone to get more food, he could listen in.

Aileen was standing with her date, Elliana, and Elliana’s best friend and business partner Weston Davis. Also with Davis was his wife, musical superstar Rebel Martinez. And even though the woman was perfectly nice, she was also a magnet for everyone at the damn party, it seemed. There was a constant crowd around their little bubble, with people constantly trying to get closer to Rebel.

Luckily she had top-notch security, but there were still too many people as far as he was concerned. It was part of the reason Theo had hung back, not wanting to get caught up in any drive-by photographs .

The employees here had been strict about warning people not to take photos tonight, but people didn’t always listen. Hell, their small crew had hacked the security system so he knew all he needed to know about their “security.”

“I see someone we need to talk to, but we’ll meet up again later,” Elliana said to Weston before hugging him, then Rebel. Then she linked arms with Aileen even as her date placed his hand at the small of Aileen’s back. Way too close to her bare back, considering how low the back of her dress dipped.

God, he wanted to burn the thing. Okay, lies—he loved her in it, loved how confident she’d looked earlier tonight when they’d left, and all he could think about was slowly peeling it from her body.

But he didn’t like her dumb date one bit. Dante didn’t care that the others had been right, that he couldn’t act as her date. He didn’t want her here at all.

Nope, she should be at home. His home, in his bed, naked. Not out here ready to confront some monsters from her past.

“Did you really see anyone?” Aileen’s voice came over the comm line clearly.

Elliana snorted. “No, but it was getting too crowded for me. I forget what a mob Rebel draws.”

“Are you going to her Christmas Eve party this year?” This was from Diego.

“Yeah, we’ll be there,” Elliana said. “How about you?”

“Maybe, we’ll see.” The other man was noncommittal as he glanced around, clearly paying attention to his surroundings.

Which was a point in his favor. Elliana had assured Dante that Diego knew this was a platonic thing, but Dante couldn’t rein in his possessiveness where Aileen was concerned. Just couldn’t seem to do it.

“Hey would you mind grabbing us drinks?” Elliana said to Diego. “I’m going to find Theo’s table. He said he’d snagged one for all of us.”

Diego nodded. “No problem.”

As soon as the other man blended into the crowd, Elliana said, “Dante, Theo, you there?”

“Here,” Dante murmured at the same time as Theo.

“Lorna’s spotted one of our targets, second floor, headed toward the ladies’ restroom. We’re making our way there now. It’s go time.”

There were only two targets so this had to be Edith Dupont. Dante scanned the upper balcony but couldn’t see the older woman anywhere. But he trusted Elliana and Lorna to know what they were doing. Elliana wasn’t in the same line of work as them, but she’d been in the Marines and was one of the smartest people he’d ever met.

Not that he’d ever tell her that and feed her ego. Hell no.

Dante abandoned the table and headed around the outskirts of the crowd, making his way toward one of the sets of stairs. The party was in full swing, with a live band, an auction, and at least forty-eight Christmas trees set up around the museum’s first and second floors. Or so Theo had told him. It was bright and cheery and he wished they were anywhere but here.

“What if this doesn’t work?” Aileen murmured, her voice low even over the comm line.

“It’ll work, you’ll see.” Things suddenly got quieter, then Elliana said, “We’re now on the elevator.”

Dante didn’t have sight of them anymore as he hurried up the stairs, passing mostly couples as he tried to hurry without looking like he was.

Tension built inside him, being separated visually from Aileen. Elliana had called in outsiders to help with getting Edith Dupont alone, and on paper it was a good idea. But he knew that shit could always go sideways no matter how well planned a job was. And this was too last minute.

***

Aileen blinked in surprise as two men in tuxes approached, both carrying “wet floor” cones and one that said under maintenance and placed them in a half circle around the upstairs restroom door. Elli had told her that this would work, but Aileen hadn’t really believed her.

A woman in all black with a little gold nametag was standing in front of the restroom and waving people away. And as soon as the women inside came out, she murmured to them, likely telling them there was an issue with the bathroom and that it was closed.

One of the men carrying a cone nodded at Elliana, pitched his voice low as he said, “You’ve got maybe ten minutes before anyone notices,” as he set his cones down. “Get in and get out. We’re leaving now.”

“This is all very organized,” Aileen murmured to Elli as they approached the large swinging door, the woman in black stepping back to let them through.

“I called in some favors.”

“It’s good luck that she decided to use this one.” It was much easier to put up signs upstairs where it was less crowded.

Elli snorted. “One of the servers surreptitiously told her that the upstairs restrooms were more private and posher.”

“You really called in a lot of favors.”

“Eh, this one just cost a little money. People are always agreeable for cash,” she whispered as she pushed the door open.

Tension and anticipation ratcheted up inside Aileen as the door swished closed quietly behind them.

The room was indeed luxurious, mostly marble with gold veining throughout the floors. There were mini gold chandeliers over the line of sinks and plush seating that made her think of long-ago parties from the roaring twenties. The seafoam-colored round, tufted ottoman in the center of the room had dividers to give people privacy if needed.

Two women were washing their hands as Elli quickly went from stall to stall, looking for Edith Dupont.

Luckily the other women weren’t paying attention to them at all before they dried their hands and headed out, whispering to each other about someone’s shoes.

Elli motioned with her hand that this was it when the toilet flushed.

In that moment Aileen questioned this entire thing. Maybe she was making a huge mistake. Maybe the Duponts were simply in town to see friends and their appearance had nothing to do with… The bathroom door opened and Edith Dupont stepped out.

She had on a sparkly pale pink gown, and even though she was in her seventies, her hair was still an almost platinum blonde in a perfect bob that probably cost a lot to upkeep.

Aileen’s first instinct was to turn around or hide, but screw it. Someone had targeted her. Twice. Dressed like Santa, which somehow made it all the worse. And she wasn’t that scared college student anymore who’d been sheltered her entire life.

Elli simply nodded at her as she sat on the velvet ottoman and crossed her legs.

This was it, the only chance she might ever get. “Mrs. Dupont.”

The woman turned as she walked toward the sinks, her expression expectant, but the moment her gaze landed on Aileen, she froze, her blue eyes wide.

Blue eyes the same color as her rapist.

Aileen was just grateful that Nessa took after her.

The older woman blinked, cleared her throat, then blinked again, and her face had gone ghostly pale. “What are you doing here?” she finally rasped out.

“I’m here to see you.” Aileen took a step toward her, her heels clicking softly on the floor. She was glad her voice didn’t shake.

The woman held up her hands almost defensively and shot Elli a beseeching look.

Elli simply buffed her nails on her dress as she looked bored.

It took Mrs. Dupont exactly two seconds to realize that Elli was with her. “We’ve done everything your parents asked,” the woman rasped out, her voice trembling. And in that moment, she looked frail, old. She sagged against the nearby sink, clutched onto it with her perfectly manicured hands. “We’ve never reached out, never even looked you up. So why are you here?”

“Because someone mugged me, then another person tried to carjack me, and both of them were dressed like Santa. And it’s all happening while you and your husband are in town. It doesn’t feel like a coincidence.”

The woman’s fear bled away to be replaced by confusion. “I have no idea about any Santas or whatever you’re talking about. Friends asked us here last minute and a Miami Christmas sounded better than a Vermont one.”

“I suggest this is the last Christmas you visit.” Elli stood now, her voice shards of ice.

Aileen looked at her sister-in-law in surprise. She’d never heard the other woman sound so cold. So…deadly.

“Are you sure your husband didn’t…hire someone?” Aileen asked, wanting to cover all her bases. Because she actually believed the woman. Her fear was real at least, and her surprise seemed authentic as well.

Edith Dupont made a slight scoffing sound. “He didn’t do anything either. He’s barely recovered from the loss of… From our loss.” She turned to the sink then, started washing her hands as she continued. “We’re just trying to live quiet lives.”

Aileen didn’t respond, simply nodded as the woman dried her hands.

“Am I free to go or are you going to hurt me? Threaten me?” Mrs. Dupont asked.

“No one is hurting anyone. We’re just two women having a conversation.” Aileen was proud that her voice still didn’t tremble when inside she felt as if she was coming apart at the seams.

The older woman straightened, looking more like the person Aileen knew from pictures. A proud, wealthy woman who came from old, old money. “We’ll be leaving the day after Christmas,” she finally said as she started for the exit, her low heels clicking. Then she turned. “How is…your daughter?”

“Perfect.”

Lips tight, she nodded but didn’t stride off as Aileen had expected. Instead, she continued, “For the record, I didn’t raise him to be…” She cleared her throat, seemed to struggle to find any words at all, then simply said, “I’m sorry.”

As soon as she was gone, Aileen nearly collapsed and found herself being pulled into a big hug by Elli, which was the bigger surprise.

Elli didn’t say anything, just wrapped her up in a tight embrace before she pulled back. “I hate to say this, but I believe her.”

“I do too,” Aileen muttered. Which meant they were still at square one .

When the door opened again, they stepped apart and headed out past a woman with an official-looking nametag on. She had on a long, black dress and was looking around in confusion and maybe a bit of concern.

“I’m sorry to bother you,” the woman said, “but I was told that there were maintenance signs up here? That someone was telling people to use different restrooms?”

Elli shook her head, her expression guileless. “We haven’t seen anything like that. But I must say what a lovely evening this has been. You’ve really outdone yourself with the food and the auction this year. It’s even better than last year.”

Aileen murmured and nodded her agreement with Elli, not surprised when the woman beamed at her.

“Well thank you, we’ve put quite a lot of work into and we’re grateful for all you’ve given as well,” she said as the three of them strode from the room. There were two security guys subtly standing off to the side, but the woman quickly waved them off and said, “It was a miscommunication,” as she continued chatting to Elli all the way downstairs.

As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Aileen could see Diego at one of the high-top tables waiting for them—and Dante standing near a pillar, a full champagne glass in hand.

He looked good enough to eat, and whew, the way he was looking at her was almost enough to make her combust. She wondered how long she had to stay here now. Could they all just leave? And then could she head back to Dante’s place for the rest of the night?

As she made her way to the table with Elli, she smiled at a familiar face. “Calvin,” she said, pausing by a table with one of the dads from the soccer field. His daughter played with another team, but at this age all the kids played at the same set of fields.

He blinked once, looking almost confused as he swept a gaze over her. “Ah…”

“Nessa’s mom, from soccer,” she supplied, laughing lightly.

He smiled, but it looked almost forced. “Right, right. Ah, Aileen right?”

She nodded and smiled at the pretty, dark-haired woman next to him. And got a frosty, tight-lipped smile in return. Okay, then.

“Well, have a great evening,” she murmured and continued with Elli, who simply raised her eyebrows.

“The tension from those two…yikes,” Elli murmured as they reached the table with Theo and Diego.

Right? Even as the others started making small talk, her gaze strayed to where Dante had been standing.

But he wasn’t there. Disappointment punctured through her, but she forced herself to smile as she turned back to the others.

She’d just faced down her past. She could deal with a stupid party for a little longer.