Chapter 16
Riding in the passenger seat of an SUV is…different. It’s even odder with the way Marcus is trying to surreptitiously side-eye me—and failing.
Biting back a sigh, I ask him, “Is there something wrong?”
“It’s just…I don’t think I’ve ever seen you leave the mansion without a suit on. Or really even inside the mansion.” He frowns as he keeps driving, his hands tightening on the wheel as if he's worried I’ll take offense. How little he knows now…
With a wry smile, I shake my head. “Suits are for those in power…or who pretend to have power, in my former case. I’m finding it quite comfortable to not wear them.”
Marcus grunts in response, but I don't push him any further. He’s expecting the old me, the me that was destroyed.
It's too late, but perhaps I’m being given another chance.
If so, I won’t fuck it up. There’s too much riding on it.
Not my life, no, that should still be forfeit, but if there’s a chance I can get my love back, that’s what is important.
That is what keeps my heart beating when I’d rather be in a grave.
By the time we’re pulling off the road, the tension is thick in the vehicle, and I wonder if he’s regretting bringing me. Not that I’d blame him. How fucking hard is it to connect to someone authentically? Fuck. I need him to throw away the preconceived notions he has of me, but how?
Marcus doesn’t say anything as he takes out his phone and sends a message.
Within a few minutes, the doors to the back seats are opening, and Nario and Nicolo slip in.
Nicolo doesn’t glance at me, but Nario gives me a small nod of acknowledgment.
My heart clenches, but I force myself to ignore it.
My Family…is not mine anymore. And this is just the beginning, I fear. I’ll have to get used to it.
Marcus takes it worse than me as he sends a glare their way. When he opens his mouth, likely with a rebuke, I lay a hand on his thigh and he automatically subsides, even as pain flashes across his face. He’s so used to protecting me, he’s forgotten it’s no longer his place.
Nicolo’s smug grin wears me down further, but I keep my mouth shut.
Nario sends him a warning glance, but it makes no difference.
At least, he moves on by addressing Marcus and me.
“It’s pretty silent. Nicolo confirmed the wife is there.
However, it’s not his sister, or if it is, they’re certainly…
close. We think he smuggled in his mistress under the guise of sister.
Not sure why the wife is accepting it, or if she realizes exactly what’s going on. ”
“When I saw them going at it, they seemed to be hiding it. Whether from the wife or guards, I’m not sure. Either way, it’s a potential weakness,” Nicolo adds. “Inside, there’s one guard. He seems…not very attentive. Mostly on his phone.”
“And on the outside, there have been two to three guards. When they overlap, it’s three, but consistently, it's only two. I think it would be easy enough to break in and grab the asshole. Maybe the women too.”
Nario sneers at the house, and I’m somewhat taken aback by the viciousness.
Then again, if this person is responsible for betraying the Amatos, it makes sense.
The Council certainly has blended well. A small burst of pride goes through me, but I keep my facial features locked down.
I don’t want the twins to report back that I’m not taking this seriously.
“Alright. We’ll take a shift and verify the guards’ pattern.
Hopefully, we can then make a move. Tennant could use cheering up, and I want any information that can lead us to Roman and Lio.
” The twins murmur an agreement before leaving so quietly it was like they were never here.
Antonio certainly did a good job training them.
“Do you want me to get closer?” I ask after half an hour, jolting Marcus from wherever his thoughts were.
He turns toward me, his mouth slightly open in shock, but I stare back levelly. If anything, I’m somewhat amused. I promised I’d be at the Council’s disposal, but perhaps he didn’t think I really meant it.
Clearing his throat, he seems to be trying to find the right words. I wait patiently before he manages, “Uh. Isn’t that…a tad dangerous?”
Keeping myself steady, I try not to snap, but it’s fucking hard.
Gently, I reply, “Marcus, I’m no longer Il Padrone.
I don’t rate protection. If anything, you should be protected.
If you’re not Carter’s Second, I’m sure you’re up there.
And I really don’t need to explain to the Council—and Carter especially—that I let you get injured on my watch. ”
Movement catches our attention, and we both turn back to the house, Marcus looking grateful that he doesn’t have to respond. I roll my eyes. He’s going to have to get over the idea that I need protecting anymore. I have faith he’ll get there though. He’s War. Strategy comes naturally to him.
“That…doesn’t look right,” Marcus mutters. I murmur an agreement. It appears the changing of the guards is not quite right. Instead of one vehicle entering, there are two. In fact… “Fuck, that’s Cecily.”
My hand automatically goes to the car door handle, before I forcefully wrench it back, clenching my hands into fists. “Fuck. This…this is not good. What’s your protocol?”
“Protocol?” Marcus looks at me in confusion, and I scrub my face in aggravation.
Dropping my hands, I force myself to calm down. “Who do you report to? You said this was viewing only, right? Who do you contact to let them know we have a target on the ground? And what looks to be…fuck, six additional guards.”
“It was Leandro who gave the order, but…shit,” Marcus mutters. “We could still grab her…”
Those were not the words I wanted to hear. Shaking my head, I retort, “Nope. You know where Leandro is in the hierarchy. Our intel on him is solid, and we don’t fuck with him. Call him instead of going against his command.”
Marcus looks like he’s going to argue, but he’s used to submitting to me, so he subsides.
I’ll feel guilty about that later, but I really did save him this time.
One of the reasons Antonio is best friends with Marcus is because they can both be…
impulsive. I don’t need him ending up on Leandro’s watchlist by countermanding an order, and I’m sure Leandro made it very clear what his expectations were of us.
With quick fingers, Marcus hits a contact on his phone. It barely rings before an annoyed voice answers, “What is it?”
Wincing, Marcus says, “We have an issue. Although, it's more of an opportunity.”
The silence is disturbing, but eventually, there’s a sigh and Leandro mutters, “Patching Carter in now.”
“What’s going on?” There’s such strength in those three words, that I feel sorry for Cristian. That is not a man to run over, and I have a feeling my friend did exactly that.
“We’re staking out the safehouse, but Cecily showed up with six guards.” Marcus’s announcement is met with chatter moving so fast I can’t keep up.
“Uh, make that eight,” I interrupt and the chatter stops, dead silence taking over. I eye Marcus, who gives me an innocent look and I shake my head. Fuck. It appears the powers-that-be were not informed that I’d be here.
“Her tracker isn’t showing up,” Leandro finally breaks in, and I take a much-needed breath, as I have no fucking clue what’s going on.
“Does that mean it’s one of the cars Antonio wasn’t able to tag?” Marcus asks, narrowing his eyes as he studies the vehicle Cecily exited from.
From the way the other guards are circling the property, they’re expecting to find something, which makes me very uncomfortable.
“I think these guards are searching for us. They’re covering the property.
We’re far enough back that I don’t think we’re at risk, but someone must have caught wind that we’ve been keeping track… ”
“Are you blaming Nario and Nicolo?” Antonio snarls through the phone, and I grit my teeth, pain lancing through me that he’d think I’d shift blame to the two men I saved.
“No. I’m saying that somehow the bitch found out we’re sniffing around. We need to get out of here.”
“Are you sure we can’t get a tracker on her vehicle beforehand?” Marcus stares at me, and I hesitate, because fuck, that would be helpful.
“We could try…but it would be a risk.” Doubt colors my voice.
Marcus flips open the center console, draws out a tracker, and puts his hand on the door handle, stopping only when Carter interrupts us. “I want to know how high the risk is. I’m not willing to take a chance on your life, Marcus.”
Marcus sighs as his eyes cut to me, sadness emanating from him.
I give him a weak smile, knowing that it cuts him to feel like he’s constantly having to stick up for me.
Weighing the situation, I answer, “It’s a high risk.
There are at least eight guards, potentially more.
If I were her, I’d make sure to have some out of sight, walking up, which is why I’m concerned about us still being here. That said, if you want, I’ll do it.”
There’s hushed murmuring, but I don’t let it distract me as I keep my eyes on what’s in front of me.
There’s no way in hell I’ll let Marcus take the risk.
If anyone is going to do it, it’ll be me.
I always led my men from the front, and even if Marcus is no longer mine, I won’t put him at risk.
And not even because Carter would skin me alive.
“Fine. I—”
The knock on the glass has me cursing. “Get out. Leave your weapons in the car.”
“What the hell is going on?” Carter demands, but when staring at three men, all with guns pointed at us, there’s not much we can say.
Blowing out a breath, I exchange a worried glance with Marcus. His jaw is set, but he chokes out, “Love you, Keegan, and Cole.”