Arranged

Chapter 33

CHAPTER 33

C armella

“The kids are still napping. I can’t believe it.” Maria laughed. “They are tuckered out.”

“I think it was all the junk food. A long nap will do them some good.” I grinned and took a sip of my wine before checking my watch. There was no reason to be nervous, yet I was.

I’d learned to follow my instincts and the nagging was only getting worse.

“I do love this house,” Maria said. “It’s just beautiful.”

I sat back, glancing around the living room. “I have to admit that I love it too. Maybe it wasn’t what I expected when Alejandro brought me here informing me that he’d already purchased it, but I can’t lie. I love every room.”

“He purchased this without you seeing it first?” She seemed incredulous.

“It happens more often than you think in my… world.” She hadn’t asked anything about business or my family and I certainly hadn’t volunteered.

“Your world.” She sat down on the couch. “Can I ask you a question?”

“How can I continue tolerating being in a very oppressive environment, worrying about danger all the time?”

Maria laughed nervously. “Something like that.”

“Well, because that’s all I know. I adore my family. I have a sister and brother. Well, half-sister and brother. They are the sweetest kids. My father’s wife is pretty amazing and in truth, when I was growing up, I didn’t think I was any different than my friends. I only learned later what my father was really involved in.”

“Is that why you became a doctor and moved away?”

So she had been told some about my life. “Yes. I planned on keeping it that way. I heard you were a nurse.”

Her eyes lit up. “I love working with children. They are just so… Well, they do drag at your patience.”

We could both laugh about that. “I have a clinic in White Plains. It’s not huge, but who knows, maybe you could come work there at some point. I mean, if you’d like to do that.” If I still had a clinic left.

“I was looking for a change. I already told… Alejandro I was leaving the state. Maybe just a different city. In truth, I would absolutely love that. I don’t think I have a job since… Well, you know.”

Her hesitation on saying her brother’s name was another reminder he wasn’t who I’d believed him to be. The funny thing was that it no longer troubled me as before.

“I’m sorry, Maria. I know what happened was horrible, but all your brother could think about was getting to you. Nothing was going to stop him.”

“I know. He was always that way. I just… I don’t like what he does.”

“Just know this. He’s a good man underneath all that masculine bravado. A very good man.”

“So I was right. You love him too.”

“Too?”

She leaned over. “He adores you, Carmella. I’ve never seen him this happy. At least not after his wife died.”

“I heard about what happened to her. I am so sorry. What a terrible time that must have been for the entire family.”

“He was so broken. Carrie was an amazing woman, but I have a feeling you are as well. I can tell by the way you are with the children.”

“I hope he’ll be able to spend more time with his daughter.” Then I added, “I don’t know why I said that. It wasn’t fair.”

“No, it’s totally fair. He deserves to be with his little girl. I just want what’s best for her. I think the two of you will make her very happy. Keep in mind, Carmella. He chose you.”

Chose me.

Over whatever life he’d once led. I’d felt it, including the change I’d seen in him only hours before. I’d felt gleeful even though what he was giving up was likely…

Legal.

Normal.

The two things this world would never be. I did wonder if at some point he’d regret his decision.

There was something special about this moment. That’s why when there was loud pounding on the front door, we both jumped.

“Shit,” I whispered, immediately getting up. At the same time, my phone rang. I was halfway to the door before I could snag it from my pocket. I also felt for the weapon Alejandro had insisted I keep with me. It was safely positioned in the waistband of my jeans. As sick as it seemed, having it close was comforting.

Maybe I truly was my father’s daughter after all.

“Alejandro. Hold on. I think one of your men is at the door.” I held the phone out after almost tripping on my own feet. Nerves were finally getting to me.

“Don’t open it!” Alejandro yelled just as I unlocked it, but his words were muffled.

“What did you say?” I asked him, confirming two soldiers were standing right outside the door by looking out the side glass panes.

“Don’t. Open. The. Door!”

Before his words locked into my mind, the door was pushed open.

“We need to get you ladies out of here.” Gio was frantic.

My instincts screamed we were facing danger. “Maria. Run!”

“You bitch.”

“No.” I jumped backward, losing the grip on my phone. When it clattered to the floor, a moment of intense electricity crackled through me. I reached for the weapon, but it was ripped from my hand, the bastard backhanding me with the cold, hard steel.

Just as Gio lifted his foot and stomped down on the fallen cell phone, crushing it into hundreds of pieces, I knew my world had collapsed. Agony shot through my head, spots forming in front of my eyes as I went down with a hard thud, falling just beside the shattered phone.

My lifeline was gone.

Now Alejandro would never find me.

* * *

Alejandro

Two bodies had been tossed aside like trash, both men with their eyes still open. They’d never known what had hit them, the bullets entering their brains from behind.

“I will kill the motherfucking bastard,” I growled as I swung the weapon from left to right. Pain tore through my shoulder from the gunshot.

“Jesus. Christ. Who the fuck is doing this? Russians?” Drago panted.

“No. Something much worse.” Panting, the rage was making it difficult to focus. We’d almost died in the ambush, caught off guard on a barren street. Thank fucking God Drago had military training. After killing the driver and two passengers obliterating the street with a spray of bullets, everything had been made perfectly clear.

I’d placed my trust in the wrong man.

Gio.

The door was wide open.

As soon as I walked in, the first thing I noticed was Carmella’s phone was in pieces on the floor. I ran my finger through the streaks on the floor, holding my hand into the light.

Blood.

The bastard had attacked her.

“Check the fucking house,” I yelled, forced to take deep, agonizing breaths.

About a dozen men had been called, more from Drago’s side. If the bastard took the fucking children, there would be nothing anyone could do in this world to prevent me from taking weeks before I allowed Gio to die.

I rushed from room to room. It appeared by the smashed vase in the foyer that Carmella had put up a fight.

There was no sign of my beloved or my sister. I rubbed blood from my eyes, still gasping for air.

I had to think. Where the fuck would the bastard take them?

“The children are alright,” Drago said. I noticed he kept his voice low, but the pained look on his face told me he understood what we were facing.

“Where the fuck are they?” I started to storm from the room, but he grabbed my arm.

“They’re sleeping. Try and breathe. We’ll find them.”

I jerked my arm away. “They will die, Drago. Make no mistake.” My heart did several flipflops and I jogged down the hall, taking deep breaths before walking inside. The two babies were sleeping side by side with their heads pressed together. I wasn’t a praying man, but I thanked God the children had been spared.

“There’s no sign of your sister.” Drago was right behind me. “I’m sorry. I have additional men on the way.”

I’d been forced to tell Drago about Maria and Jessica. He hadn’t condemned or threatened me, simply made immediate phone calls.

“I fucking failed them.”

“You didn’t fail anyone. You trusted. We all did. Look, I’m sorry, boss. My gal has two kids. The world revolves around them. You know?” Drago said. I was shocked he was attempting to make me feel better. Nothing would.

I bent down, brushing hair from Jessica’s face. Two perfect angels. How was I supposed to keep them safe?

Think. Think…

“There’s a security system set up down the hall. Check the cameras,” I told him. “Call Don Lupini. Tell him the children are coming to them.”

He didn’t argue with me, leaving immediately.

I took Jessica’s hand into mine, pressing a single kiss on her palm. She opened her eyes, blinking a few times.

“Hi, baby girl. Just rest. I just wanted to say hi.”

She nodded and rolled over, cuddling next to Gabriel.

Her soft sighs came close to breaking me. I tousled Gabriel’s hair before I stood. The little man didn’t move at all. Carmella was right. He could sleep through anything.

The moment was precious, but I couldn’t stay. I couldn’t protect them as I wanted to. Time wasn’t on my side.

I headed toward the door, stopping to catch my breath when I heard her little voice, and it ripped into me.

“Night, Daddy.”

As soon as I left the room, rage unlike anything I’d felt nearly consumed me.

I stormed down the hallway and into the security room.

“We got it. A black van,” Drago said. “It’s right there. Can’t make out the license plate, but you can see the women being pulled inside.”

“We don’t need the fucking plate. I have a tracking system on her.”

“Wasn’t the tracking system on her phone?” Drago asked, peering up at me quizzically.

“Yes, but I shoved another one into the pocket of her jeans.” I jerked my phone into my hand, shifting to the application. The beep was strong.

“Fuck. I’m beginning to like you,” he said. “Let’s go. We might be able to find the fuckers. Lupini is on notice. So are the guards keeping Enzo safe. No one will get to the rest of the families.”

“This is personal,” I growled. “Gio wants me. He can have me.”

I stopped Drago before he left the room, giving him a hard stare. “What do you need to say to me?”

“Nothing except I know you’ve heard the shit about me, but I swear to fucking God, my men will keep the children safe and get them to Don Lupini. And I won’t let you down. We’ll find your wife. Don Banderas.”

Tilting my head, I nodded once. I wondered how he’d feel when he heard the truth about me.

And that would come out.

There was nothing like the stench of betrayal lingering in someone’s nose. It was the most repulsive odor of all. We were forced to work together. I had no idea how this was going to play out, but I was committed to the outcome.

The consequences didn’t bother me.

With the children secure, we headed out. There were no additional orders needed. The soldiers knew what they were looking for.

And what needed to be done.

I’d trusted Gio. Although he’d also trusted me. Neither one of us had been truthful to the other. But to place the children’s lives in danger and take two innocent women as hostages was unforgivable.

The van was traveling at a high rate of speed, but we were coming at him from all sides. I’d insisted on driving even though my anger was through the roof. With Drago keeping a close eye on the tracker, directing me like a drill sergeant, we started gaining on their position.

It was apparent Gio had managed to convince at least three other men to follow his lead. Bronco hadn’t been one of them. But Rocco was. The fucker had obviously been convincing. I could only imagine what had been offered. I’d known the moment I’d seen Bronco’s lifeless body that Gio had been prepared to pin everything on Drago. But what position did he think he was going to gain? Perhaps Lupini’s death was next.

He’d obviously gotten the idea to poison Don Santorelli because of the action Carmella had taken. The man was clever. I’d give him that.

And if he was working with the DEA, he knew everything about me. Including where my sister lived.

In using anyone else to hunt him down, I was risking my past life, but I just didn’t give a shit. As long as the two women were left alive, the children safe and secure in their beds, whatever happened to me was just fine. I’d accept my fate.

“Interesting. The van has stopped,” Drago told me.

“Where?”

“I’ll be damned. One of our lesser known warehouses. It’s just used as an auxiliary in case of an emergency. How did the fucker know about it?”

“You could have a mole as well.”

“Gio, the fucking slime.”

“The alliance set this up perfectly.” Sadly, it had. Two powerful organizations were never meant to work together. Not to this degree.

He sucked in his breath. “I’ll check everyone. And I’ll cut out the hearts of the men who betrayed us. Make a right onto Carver Boulevard.”

“Did you stop the shipment?”

“Lupini wasn’t happy, but I did.”

It was nothing but a setup. I’d bet all that I knew the DEA was waiting in the shadows. The corrupt agents could come off looking like heroes while absconding with millions of dollars in product.

“Don Lupini will understand when he learns his daughter is in danger.” Or so I hoped. If not, he and I would have words.

The warehouse was in a mostly deserted street, but the black van was pulled up in front. I slowed, keeping my distance. The other men followed my lead, turning off their headlights when we were close.

When we exited the vehicle, I grabbed the duffle I always kept packed, slipping several magazines of ammunition into my jacket. When I grabbed a grenade, Drago’s eyes opened wide.

“What the fuck? That’s dangerous, man.”

“Trust me, Drago. Just trust me.”

“Fuck, you have some balls. I’ll give you that.”

“Whatever you do,” I told him, “make certain the women get out alive. And promise me the children will be protected.”

He slapped a magazine into his Glock and threw an assault rifle over his shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’m pretty damn good with tactical shit myself. Ex-Marine. Just like you, I take it.” He grinned and I had to laugh.

“Something like that.”

“You can protect your family yourself. There are cameras on every side of the building. They’ll see us coming.”

“Is there a way to disable it to other sources?” I asked. He had no idea what we could be facing.

“Unfortunately, yes, there is.” Drago hissed.

“Not a problem.”

We moved closer to the building, the men following my lead. When we were close, I checked the cameras, making certain I stood right underneath, even grinning when I did.

“Balls like fuckin’ watermelon,” Drago gritted out.

He truly had no idea. What did I have to lose at this point? The door was unlocked as I thought it would be and I walked inside, keeping the grenade in my pocket. Gio had been baiting us. This wasn’t about turning Drago against his Don, but about killing the both of us. We were the only two men who could stand in his way.

Other than Dion.

My mind retreated briefly to the ambush at the restaurant. Gio had allowed Dion to be shot. Fuck.

As we headed further inside, the soldiers filed out, moving as I’d quickly directed them. At least they were damn good at following orders. Once inside, I took the lead with Drago only steps behind.

“Congratulations. You made record time,” Gio said. “I applaud you. I guess I should have done a full body search on your lovely wife. Then again, I was hoping you were stupid enough to announce your former training.”

I glanced at Rocco who already appeared uncomfortable. I wasn’t surprised to find additional soldiers standing with Gio, although I didn’t recognize any of them. If I had to guess, I’d say they had carvings on their necks. Gio was playing both sides, the Russians and the DEA.

Drago’s men had piled into the room. With weapons raised and tensions high, a single wrong move could start a firestorm.

“Maybe so. I think you know what happens from here.” I moved closer, taking my time doing so. I noticed Maria and Carmella out of the corner of my eye. They were tied to two chairs, both gagged, but Carmella was fighting with everything she had.

When she scraped her chair leg across the floor, she grabbed Gio’s attention. He nodded to one of my men I’d trained and the asshole glanced at me briefly before pointing the barrel of his weapon at Carmella’s head.

“I’d be very careful if I were you. I don’t think Don Lupini would like that you fucked with his daughter. And I don’t like you touching my wife.”

“Your wife? Does your wife know who you really are?” Gio paused and glanced around the room for dramatic effect. “Agent Jeffers Sanchez of the Drug Enforcement Agency?”

Drago didn’t flinch. But I sensed his eyes were on me.

The glares were instantaneous.

“That was a long time ago. I’m no longer that man. Not that you would care. Now, I suggest you let the women go and you and I can talk about this man to man.”

“We don’t have anything to talk about.”

“Oh, we don’t?” I laughed softly, catching Carmella’s eyes when I did. She was staring at me intently. “Have you told your men it’s actually you who’s been working with the DEA? Or that you used them to get what you want?”

Gio laughed. “That’s bullshit.”

“Oh, I don’t think so. I have plenty of evidence to confirm that. Photos showing meetings you had with various DEA agents.” While I had no clue if that was true, neither he nor the other men knew that.

I saw doubt in their eyes as Gio shifted from foot to foot. It was a telltale sign that I’d warned him about more than once. When he was anxious or trying to tell a lie, the nervous tic got him every time.

Just as I hoped it would today.

“You had a nice plan from the start. Work with the Russians on one side, corrupt members of the DEA on the other. The best of both worlds. You were promised immunity for allowing DEA agents to obtain access to secure facilities, even looking the other way when they robbed from both organizations. But someone was asking questions. Weren’t they? That’s why you poisoned Don Santorelli, a man who’d been like a father to you.” That much was absolutely true.

Both groups of men were already antsy, the heat in the space becoming explosive.

“Is that fuckin’ true, Gio?” Tommy asked. He was already moving toward my ex-Capo, the weapon no longer pointed at the women.

“It’s a fucking lie. He is a liar!” Oh, good. Gio was making the point easier by coming unhinged.

“You allowed Dion to be shot because you knew he was loyal to a fault. You’d never be able to turn him.” I walked closer, never allowing my eyes to leave his face.

He tried to laugh it off, shifting from foot to foot again. “It’s all a lie. I was protecting my men and my Don against you. You killed Don Santorelli.”

“I was nowhere close, but you were. You had a conversation with the Don in his study. You had access to the drug used. And you lied about Bronco. You said he was at the estate when no one saw him there. Big mistakes, Gio.” I grinned and took two additional steps toward him.

“I’ll kill the bitches if you come closer,” Gio snapped.

I noticed Rocco backed away from his position guarding the women. The uncertainty in his eyes matched that of almost every other man in the room.

“If that fucking shit is true, you’re dead,” Drago snarled at Gio, lifting his weapon and pointing the barrel at Gio’s forehead.

“You know what, Gio? I even have you on tape talking about how you’re wasting your men and how stupid they were for following your every order.” I shook my head.

It was a trick I had no clue would work, but the men he’d conned into betraying all of us crowded even closer.

“You promised us money. Where is it?” Mark asked. He was even more pissed.

“I’ll get it for you. Soon. Not fucking now.” Gio shook his head, suddenly turning in a full circle to realize he was surrounded. The men I’d brought with me were inching closer as well.

“No, Gio. Now. This wasn’t about killing people. And these assholes are Russian?”

The four unknown men suddenly backed off in formation, raising their rifles toward the very men who were supposed to be on their team.

This could be a fucking bloodbath.

Gio pointed his weapon at me, realizing I had him in the crosshairs. When I pulled out the grenade, yanking the pin, everyone in the room took a step away. “I would be very careful if I were you. I do know what I’m doing with this. A live grenade can do some serious damage.”

“You wouldn’t hurt your wife. You can’t fool me.”

“You’re going to try it? When I did a stint in the military, they didn’t call me unraveled for nothing.”

There was a hitch in his actions and I hadn’t been prepared for Rocco to fire the first shot.

His aim was damn good, the single bullet hitting Gio in the chest.

“Do not kill him,” I commanded. “The fucker is all mine.”

I backed away, not to leave, but to save the women. Gunfire pinged against the walls as I rushed toward the two women, shocked that Drago was providing any help.

I shoved the grenade into my pocket. It seemed I hadn’t needed it all.

“Oldest trick in the book,” Drago growled. “A dummy explosive.”

“You think I’m an idiot?”

“Clever. Well played. However, I don’t know what to think about you… Agent Sanchez.”

I untied Carmella, pulling her into my arms. “That man is dead and buried. My name is Alejandro Banderas. Don Banderas.”

Drago eased Maria to her feet, narrowing his eyes. Suddenly, the men ceased fire. Now they were all looking at the four of us.

When I looked back, the Russians were dead, two of the men I’d once thought loyal down. While Gio was bleeding profusely, his chest was rising and falling. The fucker was still alive.

Carmella clung to me, her breath skipping.

“I knew you’d come. But how did you find me?” she asked, her body shaking. “The asshole crushed my phone.”

“Tracking device in your back pocket, Firesong. I had no plans on letting you out of my sight.” As I lowered my head, I dared risk even more by taking the time to capture her mouth.

There were no other sounds, no movement, but I sensed weapons were pointed at me.

When I broke the sweet moment, she rubbed my cheek. “I love you, my husband.”

The tension in the warehouse was clear. A defining moment and one I’d always anticipated being forced to face. But not in this manner.

Drago shifted his attention to the other men before allowing his angry gaze to fall to Gio’s bloodied body. “There’s our traitor.”

It took the other men a few seconds of looking amongst themselves before Rocco spit on Gio. “Fucking bastard.”

“You’re safe. I thought you were dead,” Maria whispered.

“I’m not ready to die yet,” I told her, kissing Carmella on the lips once again as I squeezed Maria’s hand.

While a part of me loathed what needed to be done in front of them, there was no other choice. I headed toward Gio, keeping my weapon lowered. The remaining men backed away, all watching me intently.

Gio was wheezing. “What did I tell you, Gio? Loyalty has many definitions. You chose to bite the hand that fed you. I chose to embrace the arms that held me.” I didn’t waste any time, firing a single bullet between his eyes.

There was utter silence in the room as I turned to face the soldiers, taking a few seconds to look each one of them directly in the eyes.

Drago continued staring at me, finally allowing his gaze to shift to Carmella.

“ La lealtà viene spesso tradita da coloro di cui ci fidiamo di più. Il rispetto è guadagnato ed è un privilegio e quest’uomo merita il nostro rispetto .”

Carmella’s voice was clear. She pushed away from me, purposely locking eyes with every man left standing in the room. Her words meant more than I would be able to tell her.

Loyalty is often betrayed by those we trust most. Respect is earned and a privilege and this man deserves our respect.

Drago cleared his throat. “What do you want us to do, Don Banderas?”

I lifted my head, giving him a nod of respect. The gauntlet had been lowered, the decision about my future made. There would be no going back.

Not that I wanted to.

“Let’s get the place cleaned up,” I told everyone. “We have a shipment to deal with.”

“Yes, sir. Whatever you say, boss.”