Chapter 3 #2
Sam looks at me, and I give him a small nod. I need to pick my battles carefully, and this is one I don’t need to win at the moment. I need them alive, and I wouldn’t put it past Mario to kill them to keep me compliant.
“Go find Dean and Lacey and get out of here,” I tell him. I don’t want to be responsible for anyone else I care about dying. We need to regroup and plan, and they can’t help me if they are dead. He must see the warning in my eyes, because he leaves the room without another word.
Mario turns his attention to Suzy and Ben.
“You two may continue to serve us here, but you will move out of my house and may live in one of the staff cottages at the back of the grounds. You will answer to me now. You may go.” Suzy opens her mouth to argue, but Ben claps a hand over her mouth and pulls her to her feet.
Without even looking at me, he pulls her out of the room, and the door clicks loudly behind them.
We have a contingency plan that I never thought we would have to use, but if they are smart, then they will put it in to play while these assholes are distracted here.
It consists of having all the loyal Russo family members go to safe houses and lie low until the time is right.
I wouldn’t put it past Mario to start culling them as quickly as possible to assure only those who are loyal to him remain.
I stiffen as I remember the note I found on the windshield of my car two weeks ago.
It’s sitting in the top drawer of my desk.
Holy crap. Did someone leave me a clue before all this?
With everything that has happened, I haven’t had a chance to run the information down yet.
Hopefully Mario doesn’t open it before I can get my hands on it.
Mario takes a seat on the vacated sofa and crosses his legs, relaxed and smug as he takes a sip of his drink.
“Now, what I really want to know, Victoria, is where your main warehouse is.” The five of them stare at me, and I keep my face blank while I secretly smile on the inside.
“I’m not sure what you mean. You obviously found our drug manufacturing warehouse,” I say flatly. “I know our chemist was working with Lorenzo. It’s why he is no longer breathing.”
Mario’s face scrunches up. “For every person of mine you kill, I will make sure to kill one of yours, starting with those who are closest to you. Remember that from now on. Now, where are the weapons and munitions. We haven’t been able to locate them in any of the properties Penelope or Lorenzo showed us. ”
I blink owlishly and shake my head. “What weapons?”
“Damn it, bitch,” he roars, jumping to his feet. “We know you run weapons. I want to know where they are. I have to trade them to the cartel for drugs since we haven’t been able to access the safes yet.”
I lean back in the chair and cross my arms, feeling smug. “Oh, that’s such a shame. Gio was the only one who had the ability to access them with his handprint.”
“You’re telling me you can’t access them?” Xavier scoffs.
“No, I can, but it needs both our handprints, and I’m going to assume Gio’s is no longer available if he’s a crispy critter.” I feel joyful that I’ve at least ruined one of his plans.
Vienna sobs again, and Tristan glares at me.
“Relax.” Colton waves a hand nonchalantly at his adoptive father. “It’s only a matter of time until I hack the system.”
“Don’t take too long, or people will be punished,” Mario threatens, and his gaze, full of disdain, falls on Vienna. I see Colton’s eyes narrow ever so slightly, and he stares at Mario with pure hatred for a split second before his expression becomes neutral again.
“I’ll keep working on it tonight. It should be easier now that we don’t have to hide anything.”
“I knew we should have had Gio change it before now,” Mario spits at Xavier, who just stares at his adoptive father.
“You know Gio said it took both of them to change it, and Tori wasn’t exactly talking to him.”
He’s right. I hadn’t talked to Gio since the day I shot Sage. Every one of his calls was ignored or sent to voicemail, and I think they all knew to avoid the house up until now. They know I have weapons hidden everywhere and none of them were safe.
Mario starts to ask me another question, but Xavier cuts him off.
“We need to go. You can interrogate her all you need to later, but we still have a ballroom full of mourners, and you just dismissed her allies, who I am sure, are as we speak, are trying to rally everyone to their side. I’ll be surprised if we don’t walk out into an ambush.”
I smirk as Mario’s face becomes the very picture of panic. This guy really isn’t all that intelligent. He glances toward the door, and Xavier rolls his eyes.
“Lucky for you, I had our men move in the minute we came in here. The mourners were cleared out,” he admits, and I see Mario relax while my own body stiffens.
“Good, good.” Mario sounds relieved as he stands up and smooths his palms over his slacks. “While you go to the courthouse, I will have my things moved into Stefano’s wing of the house and let our men pick their own rooms.”
My anger, which had slowly settled to a cold burn, flares again.
“Absolutely not,” I argue, and Xavier turns his attention back to me. Those eyes, which held so much warmth and heat when we were sparring not all that long ago, are dead and flat.
“Be quiet, Tori. You will only make things worse for you and your people.”
Mario chuckles as my mouth drops open, and I stare at Xavier in shock. Did he just tell me to shut up?
“Good, glad to see you have a handle on this. Okay, let’s go.
” Mario downs his liquor before standing up and leaving the room.
Colton and Vienna follow quickly behind him.
I reach for the gun I dropped on the desk, but Xavier and Tristan are faster.
In a blur of movement, Tristan grabs the gun, and Xavier has me pinned up against the bookcase behind the desk, sliding his hand into the back of my jacket and pulling out the other gun that is holstered there.
“Ah-ah. Don’t want you killing your fiancé.” Tristan laughs as I hold Xavier’s gaze. “Oh, and Tori, we’ve cleaned out all the hidden weapons throughout the house, and if you think to hurt any of the four of us, I will make your aunt Carla scream.”
A wave of hatred washes over me, but before I can reply, Xavier grabs my arm, passes the gun to Tristan, and drags me out of the office in the same direction the others went in.
I start to struggle, but his hand tightens, and he hisses in my ear, “Stop it, Tori. Damn it. I’m trying to protect you.”
I stop struggling and stumble along with him, staring with open-mouthed surprise, but before I can respond, I hear a voice that has all of my anger moving away from Xavier and lasering in on someone else.
We reach the foyer, and I find my worst nightmare standing in it, looking around with pleasure. There is a suitcase at her feet and men entering behind her, carrying boxes.
“Finally, we can move in. Tristan, honey, why don’t you show the guys where to put my stuff?” Stacey says to the man who appears beside me. He’s standing so close, I feel him stiffen at her words.
“Why the fuck would I show them where to put your stuff?” he growls, and she smirks.
“Well, it’s only a matter of time before our wedding. We may as well share a bedroom now,” she replies before turning her gaze on me, looking smug and satisfied as Xavier’s hand tightens on my arm ever so slightly. “Not so fucking important now, are you, Tori?”