36. Lunch

They arrived at a fine restaurant. Brianna kept her alert, guarding mind. She was not settled even though Lucien told her that Tatum would watch for them while she eats and she could take her turn to be on watch when she was done with her meal. 
But she was not comfortable. She can feel something unpleasant is about to happen. 
"Tatum, are you sure you checked the car for any trackers and got rid of them?" she asked instead. They were seated at the farthest corner from the entrance of the diner's area, closed to the wall. She checked for possible exits. The restrooms were behind the wall next to their spot. The restaurant was a two-story building. They were on the ground floor. Easy to get out but easy to get invaded as well. There were walls that divide and separate from one table to the other to provide slight privacy for every table's occupants. It was not easy to look around for the people in their seats, but anyone walking around will be easily spotted. 
"Yes, there was nothing," Tatum felt Brianna's alertness at a certain level where he thinks he also has to keep his eyes wide open of their surroundings.
"I think we have company," Brianna casually stated. She was not sure how many were out there. It wouldn't be wise to move without knowing where to go and avoid going because their enemies might already be on post. "We need a backup. We need another diversion so we can get out of here." 
What she said and what she did next were two opposite things. She calmed down and started to eat like nothing was going on. Lucien was completely bewildered. 
"How can you say we have company and we need backup then act like you didn't just say anything panicking at all?" Lucien asked in great puzzlement. But he fished his phone out of his pocket and dialed a number. He called Enzo like he did earlier and asked for backup. He was convinced Anna said something dire, but her act mystifies him.
"I need to eat and have enough energy to face them," she simply answered. "I know they are here, and they must be waiting for us to come out after having our meals. Since there are still so many people, they won't make a clear shot without being noticed and creating havoc. So I am eating," she added. Then she looked up at the two of them, Lucien and Tatum. "You guys should do the same," she extended her hands to their sides to invite them to eat. "They won't walk over here to take a shot. They know they won't make it with me around," she said calmly and continued eating. 
A few minutes later, Lucien received a call. 
"Good. Wait for my order. While in the car, look around and check for anything suspicious," Lucien ordered. He was going to ask Brianna if she had any suggestions or orders since she asked for backup. '
"Anna, the backup is here," Lucien informed his supposed-to-be secretary-turned personal bodyguard. He is not sure if her intuitions are right, but since it's also his life at stake, he called for the backup as she suggested. 
"Let them come inside here one by one, from different directions if possible with their phone camera on but hidden. They won't be able to distinguish these mercenaries. I have to see what they see on their way in to tell which way is safe to take going out of here," Brianna answered with her eyes roaming around the place—looking for something. She was checking for any camera pointing in their direction. Good thing the cameras were installed on the wall, so they barely capture their heads. 
Lucien relayed her message to his men on-post outside and told them to find an empty table where they could seat if none, just pretend to ask the waiter for an available table and return to the car. 
Brianna added orders to send the videos they can take on their way in. 
Lucien's men, sent by his Grandpa Leandro through Enzo are among the elite of the private army, just like Tatum, they know how to take orders with expertise. They know when to blend in with the crowd and execute their tasks without being noticeable. 
Soon enough, Lucien received files sent by their men on the backup team. He showed them to Anna.
"The clearest path to take on the way out is the same way we got in," Brianna snorted. "They must have known we noticed their presence and would choose any other exit except for the main entrance."
"So what do you think is the best thing to do now?" Lucien saw the men Brianna pointed as mercenaries. Some of them were among the guys that checked car by car in the neighborhood they were trapped in the morning. He could no longer doubt Brianna to be wrong. He believes her every word. Especially he can see how she is so all in protecting him. Had it only been him and Tatum out for lunch today, they might have never noticed anything until they were defenselessly cornered. 
"My idea is to lure them into a wild goose chase," Brianna answered.
"How are we supposed to do that?" asked Lucien, he was all ears to her plan.
"You and Tatum will have to change suit jackets, or at least Tatum will have to wear your suit jacket and we will walk out of here with you staying behind, the backup team will get you to the office while Tatum and I serve as the bait," she clearly stated. "We will bring the car with us since there are weapons there. We will have to deal with these people before they finish us," Brianna added. 
Lucien did not want to send Anna as bait so he disagreed. 
"Sir, we will all die here if you don't let us go," Brianna spoke in a matter-of-fact tone. 
But Lucien called his men one by one. 
"Pay attention to the man with a blue baseball cap to your right," he ordered to his man next to the fire exit on the west corner of the restaurant. Then he cut the call and made another one.
"Pay attention to the man in all black to your seven o'clock," he ordered then cut the call and made another one. He gave orders to keep an eye on all he mentioned to them one by one. and all his calls ended with one command.
"Take them down if they try to make a move when we get up in our seats, clear?!" 
Everyone confirmed to get to orders loud and clear. So without changing clothes like Brianna has suggested, the three of them walked out the way they walked into the restaurant after asking for the bill. 
They walked casually yet alert. Surprises may pop out anywhere. Lucien walked straight side by side with Brianna while Tatum looked around. They were almost a meter close to their car when they heard a swiss sound and the next thing they saw was a hole in a car to their side. To Lucien and Brianna's side. 
"Get down! Get down!" Brianna pulled her ankle gun and leaning on the car across to the car with a bullet hole, tried to estimate where the shooter could be. "They're using a suppressor!" 
Had they fired a gun without a silencer, people would have panicked and diversion will be presented for Brianna to blend in and find their shooter or leave the place. Now that no one noticed someone is firing a gun, the place is peaceful as usual. 
"Stay with the boss," then she left like a ghost. She didn't even make a tiny sound. 
"Where are you..." Lucien did not even finish his words when he saw her back as she duck her head on her way to wherever she was going. He wanted to follow behind her but Tatum blocked him. 
"Sir, we have to wait here," he reminded Lucien. 
"I have to get her back," Lucien answered with a snark. 
"She is risking her life to keep you safe, you should stay when she says so, it is the best for you and it will save her, too."
"What do you mean it will save her?" Lucien felt defeated, he didn't want to harm her in any way.
"If you stay, she will be focused on one task, if you follow, she will have her attention divided. To her task and protecting you," Tatum spoke without looking at his boss. He was keeping himself busy to look around. Unknown to Lucien he was only avoiding his boss' eyes staring at him asking for more elaboration to his words. He didn't have any so he just tried his best to hold him in one place. And he was glad to realize that his method was effective and fruitful. Because after a short while, Brianna was dragging an unconscious man by his feet to their location.
"We need this for questioning," she dropped the man's feet as soon as she got back to Lucien's side.