Chapter 29
CHAPTER 29
H unter
Italy.
Where the nightmares had truly begun.
Some might say it was where I’d lost self-confidence, but truly it was where I’d learned that you could never be too prepared.
The area was even more beautiful than it had been years before. Even the weather was perfect, the twilight skies reflecting bright stars and a half moon.
While there was a chill in the air, my blood was kept warm by the thought of tracking my target. It was the same location as before yet the mark was more important.
“Did you see that Franklin Wallace and ten other people were arrested last night?” Shephard asked as we waited.
“I didn’t see that.” I pulled the binoculars into my hand, scanning the shadowed area before lifting the lenses to my face.
“Yeah. More arrests are anticipated.”
Jagger laughed. “I bet they’re not saying why.”
“Nothing specific,” Shephard noted. “From what Pops told me, he won’t need to appear in court. Just signed affidavits.”
“That means he’s still a target,” I said in passing.
“I don’t think he cares.”
That much was true. Pops had rebounded over the last week, determined not to slide into oblivion at least until this mission was complete. Maybe he believed it to be his crowning glory before full retirement.
Or his death.
It was something I’d yet to come to terms with. One of the reasons I’d agreed to fulfilling this duty had been his words. The other had been Esme. She was the most selfless person I’d ever met. Just thinking about her brought aches to my system.
I’d been told Giuseppe Carlotto was considered public enemy number one given his continued slave trading, his large control of the heroin market, and his foray into illegal weapons. Those he sold to were countries considered enemies of the United States. He’d never been caught or arrested, and many had tried unsuccessfully on numerous occasions to end his tyrannical reign.
But those men weren’t me and didn’t have my skills.
We’d stalked, watched, and tracked Carlotto’s activities for four days before deciding on the best time and place to take him down. Ironically, he was planning a trip to the very warehouse where I’d rescued the women on that fateful night when this nightmare had begun.
Only now, it was being used to store shipments of weapons and sometimes heroin. A large shipment was due into the New York Harbor in less than two weeks. If the information I’d gathered was correct, the pallets inside the warehouse we were casing held the entire shipment. At least that’s what we’d learned by sourcing our own informant, a man I’d used in the past.
With Shephard and Jagger as my backup team, there was a significant amount to lose, but more to gain. Today was fulfillment of the mission as we’d also gotten word that he had plans on ordering the hit on the Saudi prince in the next forty-eight hours.
That was information obtained by our father.
I pulled away the binoculars after watching the group of four enter the building, Carlotto and his son backed by two guards. “They’re in.”
“Right on schedule,” Shephard noted.
“We good to go?” Jagger asked.
We remained in the vehicle we’d rented, the color black fading into the shadows. We’d maintained our distance, ensuring no one had followed us. Our flight had gone into an entirely different part of Italy that Carlotto had no control over. From there, we’d met with a trusted advisor of my father’s. He’d supplied the necessary equipment to handle our business, including detailed blueprints of the warehouse.
It had changed dramatically since the night I’d been inside, the location even more secluded than before. With our infrared goggles and enough assault weapons and explosives to destroy a small city, we were very prepared for what we’d face.
According to the heat sensors, that included only ten men, including the two who’d accompanied Carlotto to the warehouse. And, if our informant was correct, Giuseppe’s second son was with him. With both men out of the picture, Anastasia would have no choice but to disappear or be hunted down by those itching to take over Carlotto’s territory.
The photograph of the woman at the gas station had been a lookalike, a poser working inside the very organization that had recently been gutted. Franklin had gone to great lengths to try to fend off my father’s determination to bring him down. We had learned false information regarding Carlotto had been provided by someone my father had initially trusted.
It had been a ploy all along.
“We go,” I directed as I slipped from the vehicle. I scanned the perimeter before sliding the goggles back into position.
From here, there would be no conversation unless absolutely necessary.
We moved in formation as we’d been taught, remaining in the dense forest as we inched closer. It had been Jagger’s job to find any area of the building where we could avoid the security cameras. He’d found one, although it would take precision crawling on our stomachs.
As soon as we were in the correct coordinates, we dropped to the ground, sliding under the invisible wire while keeping an eye out for any activity. This time, there was no leak, no possible interruptions. The surprise wouldn’t be a good one.
Once we flanked the building, I pointed to the left, the location Jagger would head as soon as we walked inside.
I checked the infrared, hoping the group left the main room. That would allow for a successful entrance.
Four minutes later, my wish was granted.
After placing the small explosive on the door just as I’d done years before, we pulled back. Within seconds, we were inside. The group was talking in the room where I’d found the women. It was only appropriate in my mind for them to die inside that same room.
With our training still in place, we flanked both sides of the opening. With a single nod given, we moved into the room.
The element of surprise was exactly what we’d hoped for. All three of us moved in perfect rhythm, spraying the room with bullets. The only man left standing after the act was complete was Giuseppe Carlotto.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” I told him as he pointed his weapon at Jagger. All three of us had our weapons pointed at his head. My brothers remained behind as I walked closer.
“Who the fuck are you?” he asked in his heavy Italian accent.
“You don’t recognize me? This was the face your son saw moments before his death.”
As soon as his eyes lit up in recognition, I placed the barrel of my weapon against his temple. “ Goditi il tuo soggiorno all’inferno con i tuoi figli .”
Enjoy your stay in hell with your sons.
As I pulled the trigger, I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders. Killing had become an artform as well as a necessity. It was either kill or be killed. I had never hesitated to follow through with my orders. “Fucker,” I hissed, taking a deep breath as I studied the blood splatters on the walls. I could almost taste their blood.
“Good job, gentlemen,” Shephard stated as soon as the man’s body dropped to the floor.
I backed away, studying all the product being stored. Their price on the street was well into two hundred million dollars. All designed to go onto the streets of New York. Not any longer.
“What now?” Jagger asked.
“Set the explosives. I think a round of fireworks is in order for the end of an era.” I glanced at both my brothers, locking eyes with each one.
We’d been through enough trauma in our lives. It was time to live life as simple guys often disguised as mountain men.
Less than ten minutes later, we were back inside the vehicle. I looked over at Jagger and nodded.
As soon as he pressed the button, the skies were lit up with a fiery display.
My father had been correct. This was the only way to release the monster holding both my soul and my mind hostage.
Now it was up to me to release my heart.
Esme
“What if he doesn’t make it back home?” I asked.
“You’ve asked that same question a dozen times. He’ll come home,” Bella insisted. “They all will. If not, I’ll kick their asses.”
She’d been determined to stay with me at my cabin, acting like part nursemaid and part friend. While I’d told her a half dozen times I would be fine, I was grateful she’d been here.
Even working had been difficult, let alone spending hours alone. The days had seemed like weeks and there’d been no contact whatsoever. I’d stared at the phone more times than I could count, willing him to call me.
Now I was beginning to lose hope.
The person remaining the strongest had been Dexter. He’d assured us several times his sons knew what they were doing. Yes, I knew he still had some connections, but with the recent arrests of several prominent citizens, he’d been told to lay low.
Nothing was easy at this point. Not sleep. Food. I couldn’t think clearly. My stomach was in knots, my pulse constantly racing.
“I’m just worried.” I was down to whispering at this point.
She squeezed my shoulders. “We all are. But you need to believe he’ll return.”
“What if he does, but decides to return to the life?”
“He won’t. Stop doing that to yourself. You saw the news. Whatever that group was doing is on hold and possibly permanently. Plus, they don’t want that life. Do they?”
I heard the angst in her voice as well. This wasn’t easy on any of us.
“He didn’t promise me he wouldn’t.” I hated to admit I wasn’t certain what he would do. Or if our connection was strong enough and I hated myself for thinking that way.
Even though Bella attempted to laugh, the sound was as heavy as I felt. “That’s because he’s stubborn. You’ll knock some sense into him. Why don’t we open that bottle of wine I brought?”
“Sure. Sounds good. Your turn.”
“Yeah, yeah. Stop worrying!”
Nothing sounded good at this point. I paced the floor, trying to get my mind off the man. I could still feel his lips kissing mine, and his touch when he’d brushed his knuckles across my face while saying goodbye. I’d promised myself I wouldn’t cry, but it was becoming more than impossible with every passing day.
I closed my eyes and lowered my head into my hand. A single tear fell and I sniffed it away.
“Damn it,” I hissed. He had to come back. He just had to. I hadn’t told him I loved him.
A light sound caught my attention. I instantly jerked my head up. What in the hell had I heard? If there were more people dropping by offering food, I wasn’t certain how I’d react. I was exhausted, cranky as hell, and wasn’t in the mood for company.
The single knock brought a hiss right to my lips.
“Are you expecting anyone?” Bella asked as she walked back into the room with a wine bottle and two glasses in her hands.
“No. Can you get rid of them for me?”
She gave me her infamous chastising look, forcing the items in her hands into mine. “Then you pour the wine.”
“I can do that. Thank you.” I offered as much of a smile as I could manage before heading toward the coffee table, purposely turning away from the door.
“Um. I think you need to see this.” Bella’s voice caught in her throat.
“Bella.”
“Would you turn around before I yank you around?”
“God. Fine.” I spun around on my heel, thoroughly confused as to what I was looking at. “What is that?”
My bestie backed away from the doorway. “It appears to be a puppy trying desperately to climb out of a huge basket.”
My heart almost stopped completely and my legs tried to refuse to move forward, but I managed, instantly bending over and picking up the fur ball. “Oh, my God. He’s huge. Who left this?” I peered outside, seeing nothing. Oh, God, please. Please…
“He has something around his cute and oh-so chubby neck.”
I pulled the pup away, noticing a bright red bag was tied to his collar. “What have you got there, little fella?”
“Here. Let me hold him.”
Bella was grinning from ear to ear as she held the puppy out while I untied the bag.
“Did you know about this?” I demanded, so breathless I could barely think.
“Who, me? No. I honestly don’t know but it seems pretty special to me.”
My fingers were shaking as I pulled open the bag. Inside was a small velvet box. “What?” I almost dropped it as I tried to open the lid.
“What is it?” Bella asked.
“No way. No. I… A ring. An engagement ring. I don’t understand.”
“Girl, I think you need to take a deep breath and look outside.”
“What?” I flew out the door, turning first to the left until a wild course of electricity pulled my head to the right. Oh, my God. He was here. He was alive. He was back. He was… I gasped for air as he swaggered closer.
“So I heard you wanted a big, fluffy mammoth of a pup. Right?” Hunter had a smile on his face, almost an ah-shucks look. “He’s a Bernese Mountain dog. I thought he was perfect for a lady like yourself.”
“Oh, yeah?”
He swept his gaze all the way down to my toes and my entire body was set on fire. “Oh, yeah.”
“Who’s asking?” I countered.
“Just a guy looking for a girl to love him.”
“I don’t think you’re going to find one around here. We’re already taken.” I walked a little closer, but pointed back toward Bella.
He took a single step. “You sure about that? I can be very convincing and I like what I see standing right in front of me. I might need to claim her as my own.”
“Nope. Already claimed. My man is something special. He’s charming and polite, handsome and sexy as all get out. I’m sorry, but you’re not him.”
There was such a spark in his eye as he rubbed his freshly shaved face. My heart thudded, the butterflies in my stomach filled with excitement. And he’d never looked so good in my eyes.
“I’m still going to try and convince you. If not, I’ll just take what I want and lady, I want you.”
I lunged forward, jumping into his arms. “Oh, God, Hunter. You’re home!”
“I told you I’d come home, but I didn’t want to do so empty handed.”
“What is this? What is going on?”
He eased me down and slid a single finger from one side of my jaw to the other before dropping down on one knee. “You always told me you weren’t a traditional girl, but I know better. Because of you, I’ve been able to see life and the world through your beautiful eyes. All I can imagine and want is to see joy in them every single day. I want to wake up next to you. I crave going to bed every night with you by my side. And if you’re willing, I’d love to have you as my wife.”
I was utterly shocked.
Woof!
“Answer him, silly,” Bella snapped.
When the pup barked, his sweet little voice floating into the air, I was jarred out of my amazing bewilderment. “Yes. Yes. Yes!”
“Woo-hoo! It’s about time!”
As Bella began to clap, suddenly we had a much bigger audience, Jagger and Shephard appearing with Shephard’s arm around Denise.
“So happy for you!” Denise exclaimed.
“You did it, bro,” Shephard said. “I didn’t think you had it in you.”
Love was a fickle thing, an emotion that was often fleeting or something that could drag a person into tragedy or triumph. Yet with Hunter, I knew our love would only grow. Would it lead us into adventures? Absolutely. Would it take us down an uncomfortable path? Without a doubt.
Yet there was truly no one else I would rather spend the rest of my life with.