Chapter 37 Hollis
The sitting/meeting room is bursting at the seams with people.
It’s all hands on deck for rescuing our Bosses—aside from Allesandro and Benjamin, at least, though I can’t say I miss either of them.
I need to speak to both of them before I allow them near my Cucciolo again.
Though…maybe I need to speak with Cristian too, because I have no idea how Roman is going to react with his father here.
We have very little time, with an extensive to-do list, and my entire back is locked up from the tension.
Doc’s intervention can only help so much in a time like this.
Though, on the plus side, while I’m still wobbly and off-center, I feel, for the first time in months, like I’m not a moment’s notice away from spiraling.
I’m hoping, once I have my Boys back, things will level out again. It’s not a quick fix, nothing ever will be, but the person I am today is miles away from the person I was sixteen-seventeen years ago. The love from Roman and Lio, Tennant and Jude, can only help the healing experience.
The need to get our Bosses back isn’t just propelling me, but everyone in the room. The silence is thick, and the tension in the room is so high it’s suffocating.
Carter clears his throat and leans forward, everyone watching him carefully to make sure he’s not hurting himself.
He ignores the stares as he sweeps his gaze across the room, a determination in his dark blue eyes that you don’t see often.
Though no one here is ignorant to how fierce and strong the Boss is.
“We have the location, it’s been verified by both Hollis and Leandro, and our spies. There hasn’t been any movement from the Senator, but our contacts have confirmed he’s there.”
“Yes,” I jump in after Carter is finished speaking.
“Leandro has been in constant contact with his inside man, and the Senator is still on-site—he doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere any time soon.
Leandro and I were able to get the floorplans for the location, and I’ve sent them to you all.
There’s two different entrances, a back and front, that are heavily monitored by cameras and people.
The cameras shouldn’t be an issue. Leandro is working on hacking into them now. ”
“A distraction won’t work this time,” Ignacio says. “We have to assume they know the daughter is missing by now, so that’s going to complicate things.”
Fear shoots through me at the thought of Roman and Lio at that bastard’s mercy.
“We need someone to go in and liberate the little Bosses before the Senator has a chance to do anything about it,” Ten muses.
“No,” Jude voices. When he gets Tennant’s attention, he switches to ASL. “I won’t send Antonio or the twins in alone. Not fucking happening. Antonio is still recovering from his time with that bitch, and if the Senator knows we took her… No.”
“That’s not your decision, Agnellino,” Tennant replies. He tilts his head and asks, “Unless you don’t care if we get Roman and Emilio back? Have you found your perfect submissive and decided you don’t need the giocattolo anymore?”
“Fuck you, Tennant,” Jude spits. “That’s not it at all. I’m sorry I want to make sure the people I love don’t end up as collateral damage.”
“Enough,” Carter steps in. “It doesn’t have to be them, though I do agree with Tennant that finding Roman and Lio, and getting them out, should be the priority for someone. Getting in will be easier for one or two, while our forces are trying to breach the property.”
“Hit them from the front and back, while the rescue team goes in and gets the Bosses…” Marcus mutters. “That could work. We’d need to hit hard and heavy, and make sure we have control over the cameras, so there’s no risk to whoever goes into the house ahead of the main force.”
Before I can reassure him that Leandro and I have that under control, my phone rings, and I put it on speaker when I answer. “What’s happening, Leandro?”
“I’m in,” he replies. “Lachlan had to leave—our friendly neighborhood senator wants him to secure their people and prepare for a takeover. Apparently, he’s very confident we’re going to die when we go in.”
“Does he know about Cecily yet?” Carter asks.
Leandro sighs. “Yes, he does. It’s part of why he sent Lachlan away. We need to move fast if we’re going to save Roman and Lio, and catch the Senator at the same time. I’ve been told he’s not to be underestimated.”
Marcus frowns. “Cecily gave a similar warning, but we knew that already. He was able to hide the type of monster he is for a long time, but he can’t hide behind his public appearance anymore.”
“That makes him more dangerous,” Tennant remarks. “He has nothing but his reputation to lose, and someone like him? He’s going to fight like hell to preserve said reputation.”
“Can you get into the security archives?” I ask Leandro.
“No. They seem to be transmitting somewhere else, or they don’t save their security feed at all—I wouldn’t if I were them.”
“What can you tell us about their forces?” Marcus asks.
“Heavy,” Leandro replies instantly. “They seem to be waiting for us, confident we’re going to come for them.”
“We could be walking right into a trap,” Ignacio muses. “Where are they most concentrated?”
“No one place. They’re scattered around the property, covering their bases.”
“So we make it seem as if we’re only attacking from one side, and then sneak up on them when they call away more people from one area, as we go in with another wave…” Marcus contemplates then, looking at Ignacio as he does.
“They might be prepared for two different attacks, but three…” Ignacio muses.
“It’ll be harder to pull off,” Tennant replies. “It’ll split our forces even further. While I believe we have enough people to cover it, we don’t want to spread ourselves too thinly either.”
“Can it work?” Carter asks. “A small retrieving party goes in, during the first or second wave, and works on freeing Roman and Lio, before the outside teams breach the house?”
“Yes,” Marcus says. “It’ll be a delicate dance, especially if we’re sending someone in for Roman and Lio without any back up. But I don’t trust the Senator, so we shouldn’t wait for the main force to get through his own before attempting to rescue them.”
“I agree,” Leandro says over the line. “From what I’m seeing, Roman and Lio are alone in a room—these assholes really need to get creative about how they deal with their prisoners. I can provide support, while Hollis keeps an eye on everything that's going on outside.”
“I’ll go in,” Cristian says.
Everyone goes silent as all eyes turn to the former Boss.
He doesn’t pay the attention any mind, effortlessly signing and voicing as he says, “Roman is my son, and I need to get him back. I’m aware of how important Emilio is, not only to my son and my friend, but to the rest of you. I will get them back.”
“I’ll go in with him,” Tennant says. He looks to Keegan and Marcus. “I believe there will be enough voices on the ground that they don’t need my input. I can be more effective taking them down from the inside out.”
Marcus inclines his head. “You’re confident you can slip in undetected?”
“Yes,” Ten replies. “They’ll expect to see me in the main force, so my being there won’t be surprising. In the confusion…I can get in.”
“Okay.” Carter lets out a breath. “How much time do we have before we need to go in?”
“I wouldn’t suggest more than a few hours,” Leandro says. “We don’t want the Senator moving, and without Lachlan to keep an eye on things there, we’re going in dark. I have the cameras under my control, yes, but there’s still room for error, as we have to assume he has an exit plan.”
“Then refine your roles, pick your teams, and let’s get my co-rulers back.” Carter’s order seems to jump-start life into everyone, as the stress and tension of not knowing eases, while the determination to succeed comes forth.
There’s no room for mistakes here, not when we’re so close, not only to saving the Boys we love, but taking out our enemy for good.
One chance is all we get, it has to be enough.