Chapter 21
MASSIMO
When I finally walk back into Nico’s office, it’s a mess of paper, Amara writing on some sheets, while Gia and Sienna write on others. All the men, minus Alonzo, who still hasn’t come back, are spread around the room, expressions fascinated as they watch it all unfold.
Even Sofia, who came in at some point, looks intrigued as she stands next to Dante. I narrow my eyes at them, but Lucy’s words echo in my head again, and I force myself to push away the annoyance. There will be time to sort all that out soon enough.
“Someone fill me in,” I say as I move to stand between Alessio and Lazaro. Nico is on Alessio’s other side, watching with sharp eyes.
“That we all found women with very sharp brains,” Lazaro states, grinning. “They’ve been making lists, talking between each other, and adding in things as we tell them. At this rate, they’ll have the whole thing solved in no time.”
“If it means less bloodshed, I’m all for it.”
Alessio nods. He looks at me. “Did we scare Lucy away?”
“No. Soren got fussy with all the loud noise and she took him out. She’s still uncomfortable, and with Nico opening his stupid mouth, she’s not feeling all that trusting either.
” I glare at Nico, who ignores me. “But, she’s not running, so I’ll take that as a positive sign.
She’s gone back up to my room to change and feed Soren.
It’s probably better. I don’t want to push her, and this whole thing right now is going to only confuse and scare her more. ”
“She is a strong woman, I think she’ll surprise you,” Aurelio comments from the other side of Lazaro.
That reminds me. “She did bring up the point that she was surprised that Nico’s mother didn’t go to the Russians for help or try to sleep with one of them. She said it’s weird that she slept with so many of the other men from different families around here, why not them?”
“That’s exactly the thing I just wrote down,” Amara announces, making me turn to look at her. She’s watching me with a thoughtful expression. “Why didn’t she? They have an island. They have the ports. As much as I hate to think of it, the ports are the perfect places to bring people in, right?”
“Technically, we all have access to ports, so she might not have thought she needed it,” Dante chimes in. “Or maybe she hadn’t gotten around to expanding that way yet?”
“The Russians have their own system, so she would be in direct competition with them,” Nico states. “She probably didn’t try to approach them so that they wouldn’t know what she was up to. She didn’t want to start a war and then try to explain why it started, I imagine.”
“But there were marks on the Russian side of the map,” Amara says with a frown. “I need to look at that again, but I’ll do that after. We need to get this all down first so we can make a plan.”
“Did you find out if the Conti name is the same as Bianca’s family?” I ask Dante.
“My contact said that they didn’t know any first names. There are a couple of Conti families around, but why would he deal with any others?”
“I wonder if it is Bruno Conti and if he knows that Leonardo is involved, or if he’s only going with Esposito, not knowing of the connection?”
“The Contis are sharp, and they probably know all about Leonardo and Esposito. Maybe not this whole ring bit, or they might and not care. Leonardo also isn’t the one who killed his daughter.
If Leonardo told Esposito to let Bruno know that this whole deal is being able to go after Giovanni and the Russians, he’s probably jumping at the chance. ”
“So why sell Lucy? Aren’t they related in some kind of weird way? Marriage wouldn’t be a solution.”
“Technically, Lucy is a niece, so it’s not a direct relation to Conti. Or Leonardo and Esposito didn’t tell him and are only saying they have a woman for them. Buyer implies that this isn’t a marriage. This was purely transactional,” Dante points out.
“I just realized something,” Sienna says.
“Look at all these groupings. Giovanni and the Russians, that’s a huge army at his back if he wants it.
He doesn’t have many men, so that’s a way to grow his numbers.
Marco married Sinead, and he was already worming his way into the Irish early so he has a lot of men at his back now too.
Nico has everyone here and large numbers.
Leonardo has his men, while seemingly vast, and Esposito.
Esposito doesn’t have many men in comparison.
They’re running short. Leonardo is running short on men, time, and probably power.
Out of everyone, he’s on the losing end if he doesn’t find someone else to help them. ”
“Out of the Contis and the Bianchis, the Contis are larger,” Dante agrees. “If you want power, and having the revenge aspect, they’re a better source.”
“If you’re looking at it from a tactical point of view, now is the time to strike at Leonardo,” Lazaro states. “He’s weakened. He’s lost his bargaining chip with the Contis or Bianchis, which means he’s going to be scrambling to find the other girl, or find another way to get their help.”
“We don’t know where he’s hiding,” Pietro reminds us.
“We can’t just send our own men in blind.
There is also the matter of Giovanni and Marco.
Marco is young and stupid, and he’s focusing on taking over a territory that he has no hope of winning.
The other family members of Gallo’s won’t stand for this.
Marco’s days are numbered. Giovanni is mad enough about losing two more of his sons and all their inside knowledge that he’s probably planning an attack right now.
We have to be smart. We have to be careful. ”
“What if…” Amara trails off, frowning and looking uncertain.
“What is it, colombina?” Lazaro prompts. “Every suggestion is helpful.”
“Well, I don’t have all the data,” she admits.
“We haven’t gone through all the notes, journals, and documents that Nico’s mother left, but she had a secret entrance into Leonardo’s house, right?
But if Leonardo, Seamus, and Esposito have been working together for so long, there have to be places or routes that they can use to hide their men, right?
Make them seem weak, and then, when the time is right, they strike.
Or it’s a way for them to get out of the city before shit hits the fan.
Let us all fight it out, kill each other off, then come back stronger and bigger than before and take out the winner so they have it all to themselves. ”
“Yes,” Sienna cries excitedly. “Amara, you’re a genius. And if that’s not what they’re using, thinking that we’ve found it all, so they don’t dare, it’s our chance to use it. Not for the whole trafficking thing, but for a strategic advantage.”
“You want to use the routes for our men so we can surprise them,” Gia summarizes.
She grins. “Beat them at their own game. They’re probably scrambling to close those up or switch plans and routes, which means that things will be missed and forgotten.
There might also be other important things found in there. More information.”
“This entire war is about to fuck up some major routes and alliances,” Sofia states, moving to stand next to Gia.
“We need to go through the documents. Fast.” She looks at Zeno and Urso.
“I know you’re digitizing stuff, but we need access to the documents, too.
Maybe with us looking at them, we’ll spot something quicker that we can use.
You all figure out the logistics of everything going on right now, but we can help. ”
I glance at the other men in the room, grinning. “You heard them. I guess we’d better get to work.”
“Where are the documents now?” Amara asks Zeno.
“We have them with our tech teams,” Zeno replies. He glances at Dante. “They’ve been working to scan everything and are about halfway through now. We can give you the half they already scanned, and we’ll try to get the rest scanned as fast as we can.”
“What about the journals?” Gia asks. “We’ll need those too. It’s possible that our mother or Amaras noticed or said something that could be helpful.”
“Topolina,” Nico cautions.
“What did I say about treating me like I’m broken?
” Gia snaps, glaring at him. “I won’t break, Nico.
You need to either accept me as strong and able to handle it, or not.
And if I can’t, someone else can read it.
When this is over, do you want a wife who can stand beside you knowing that she’s faced the worst, or someone who hides when things get hard? ”
“I want a wife who isn’t hurting and in pain,” Nico snaps back, scowling at her.
“Well, that’s not possible. Life is painful, and you’re probably going to hurt me at some point. You’re kind of an asshole like that.”
I snicker at Nico’s dark expression. I can see that he wants to argue with her, but he wisely keeps his mouth shut.
“The journals are in my room,” Papa says. “I will bring them down. I have read through them but seen nothing that means much, but perhaps you will all see something that we would miss.”
“I know I don’t know what’s going on, and I’m not really one hundred percent a part of this, but I can help too,” Kida offers quietly. “The sooner this is over, the sooner we can go home.”
“Any new eyes helps,” Amara says with a smile.
“Alright, we have a plan. Dante, see if you can find out if it is Bruno Conti who’s in talks with Leonardo,” Papa orders. Dante nods. “Good. Then we have a direction.”
“We need a room for all this stuff,” Sienna states, looking at Nico expectantly. “I doubt you want us to take over this one, so where can we go?”
Nico grumbles something under his breath, but then he waves a hand dismissively. “I don’t care where you go.”
“I have the perfect room in mind,” Sofia says. “I’ll show you after to see if it will work.”
“And we need whiteboards. Oh, and one of those corkboards. Oh, and strings and—”
“Make a list,” Sofia interrupts. “I’ll send someone out to get it all.” Amara nods excitedly, grabbing another sheet.
“Okay then, now we have to—”
BANG!
The explosion fills the air, rattling the windows and shaking the house.
I’m moving before the second follow-up explosion, this one closer to our location, and shattering one one of the windows.
Thankfully no one is near it, but I’m grabbing Sofia first, while Lazaro, Alessio, and Nico all dive for their women.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Zeno grabbing Kida.
“Get them into the passages,” Nico barks, even as Dante opens the one in this room his face set into a hard line.
“Where’s Lucy?” Kida suddenly screams frantic. “Where is she? Lucy!”
“I’ll get her,” I bark sharply. “Get into the passage with the others.”
“Someone text Alonzo and tell him to get Rori and Hades in too,” Sienna yells.
“I want a fucking gun,” Sofia snaps when I set her inside the passageway. “I don’t want another disaster like last time.”
I hand her mine. Alessio hands Sienna his. “None of you are to come out,” Alessio orders sharply. “Until we know what we’re dealing with. We’ll get you as soon as we can. Sofia, you know those passages, so make sure you have your phone and call if you need us.” Sofia nods.
“Massimo, if you don’t get my sister and nephew I’ll kill you myself,” Kida threatens angrily, but under it I hear the terror.
“I’ll make sure to get them to you,” I promise.
More explosions, gunfire, and screams. Fuck. We have to go.
The door to the passage shuts on the women, and I run for the door. “Dante, I want to know what the fuck is going on,” Nico yells.
“I fucking do too,” Dante snaps back, racing down the hall toward the front.
“I need to get to Lucy,” I shout over my shoulder as I head the other way. I need to get to the second floor fast. I don’t have time to waste.
“Go!” Papa orders. “Get Alonzo on the way.”
I take the stairs as fast as I can, and when I hit the top, I race for my room, heart pounding.
People are running through the halls, mostly soldiers, but also staff, just trying to get out of the way or find a place to hide.
“Get out of the fucking way,” I roar when some of them stop, unsure where to go.
They scurry to the side, and I bark, “Get the fuck into a room and stay there or go back down to the staff quarters or something. If you stay here, you’re liable to get shot. ”
That sends them running, terror on their faces. Good. I have no time to deal with that bullshit.
When I reach my room, I thrust the door open, already screaming for Lucy.
“Lucy, where are you?” I hear Soren’s cries, and I race for the walk-in closet where I find Lucy huddled in the very back, clutching Soren to her, her face pale and eyes full of terror.
“I have you, cerbiatta,” I rasp out, reaching down to grab her and lift them both in my arms. “I’m going to help you get somewhere safe, alright? You and Soren.”
“What the hell is happening?” she gasps.
“I don’t know anything other than we’re under attack.” I move to the other wall, put my hand on the shelf full of shoes, and the concealed door opens without a sound.
Thankfully, just as I set Lucy inside, the other women come rushing down. “Lucy!” Kida cries, pushing through to get to Lucy first. “Oh, thank God.”
“Lucy,” I say, pouring steel into my tone to get her attention.
I don’t want her falling into hysterics right now.
Lucy’s gaze whips to mine, but instead of looking angry, there’s a wealth of trust and hope there.
It hits me hard. “I need you to promise me that you are going to stay with the others. Rori and Hades will be in here shortly, alright? Do not leave these passages without them. We don’t know who’s here, but we can’t take any chances.
Do you understand?” She holds my gaze and nods.
“Words, Lucy.” Lucy’s physical reaction to my order is telling.
“Yes, sir,” she replies, giving me her full attention, her eyes never leaving mine until I nod, and then lowering to the floor. Almost submissively.
No, not the time to notice that.
“Good girl,” I murmur. I reach out and cup her cheek. “You both are safe, Lucy. I promise.” Then I put my hand on Soren’s head, cutting off his sobs. “Take care of your mama, ometto.” I look at Lucy one more time, then look at the other women.
Sofia gives me a knowing look. “Go,” she urges. “They’re safe here.”
I shut the door and go to the other wall of the closet. I grab my spare gun, all the ammunition I can carry, and head for the door.