Chapter Twenty-eight
Noah
The church was set up beautifully, just as I knew it would be.
For safety purposes, I’d suggested changing the location to the Ritz, but Vicki wouldn't hear of it. She’d always envisioned getting married where our parents had, and I couldn't take that away from her.
For a brief moment in time, I was able to put aside the rest of the world while I stood up for my best friend and my sister.
Then we had to drive to another venue for the reception, and that was where my anxiety flared.
If the Lombardis and Matteo Franco wanted to take us out, our convoy would give them the perfect opportunity.
At the very least, I managed to convince everyone that we needed not just extra security, but decoy vehicles, too.
When we finally made it to the fancy venue with the breathtaking views of the city, I managed to relax a fraction.
I was still suspicious that they were planning something, but I kept my thoughts to myself.
Mr. and Mrs. Giovanni Bianchi had just been introduced for the first time when I felt my phone vibrate from inside my tuxedo jacket. I was concerned that one of the guards would try to contact me first in case of an emergency, so I’d refused to put it on silent.
By the time I fished it out of my inner pocket, it had sent the caller to voicemail. As I checked the number on the call log, I nearly swallowed my tongue.
Though I’d deleted her contact information, I knew that number by heart. What in God’s name would make Sailor want to call me, and on the day of the wedding? Surely, she knew I was in the middle of something.
My stomach had yet to settle when I saw the incoming text at the top of the screen. With my blood turning to ice, I spun to search through the crowd. I needed my father, I needed Roman, and maybe I also needed every single one of the guards we’d hand-picked to be at the service.
All I could find was my new brother-in-law, and the last thing I wanted to do was ruin his day.
He held Vicki close as the song they’d chosen for their first dance played over the speakers, and they swayed over the dance floor.
My tie began constricting me, and my impatience mounted as they gazed into each other’s eyes.
“Noah? Why are you frantically searching the crowd?”
Finally. Turning to see Dad behind me, I grabbed his sleeve and pulled him away from the guests.
“I just got a text from Sailor.”
“That’s fantastic!”
“Wait,” I barked before he could go all exuberant matchmaker on me. “She says Matteo has her and that he’s planning on a prisoner exchange where I die in the process.”
His smile disappeared, and his expression became dead serious. “Ask her if she knows anything about the whereabouts of the location.” As soon as he gave me the orders, he pulled his own phone from his pocket and dialed.
Tuning him out as he called for backup, I returned Sailor’s text.
If you’re able to, call me again.
I moved out of the main room, finding a quiet hallway leading to the bathrooms. Immediately, my phone vibrated with a call.
“Sailor.”
Just saying her name wrecked me in a way I didn't think was possible anymore. I’d tried so hard to push the memories to the back of my mind where they belonged so I could be present for the wedding, but I’d clearly failed if the panic crawling up the back of my throat was any indication.
“I don’t know how long this will last,” she said, sounding far away. “They took my phone, so I’m using my watch while the two are still connected.”
Instead of asking for the location as my father instructed, I asked the more important question. “Did he hurt you?”
“No. He seems to think he can use me as his pawn, and he’s unhinged, but he hasn't hurt me.”
“Do you know where you are?”
She sighed over the speaker. “All I know is that it’s a big white house with blue shutters. He has a high stone wall and lots of security.”
Well, yeah, we all did. “In other words, I’ll probably have to wait for him to reach out to me.”
“Assuming they aren't staring at my phone screen right now, seeing that we’re talking, then yeah. But, listen.”
While I waited to see what she would say, I paced up and down the hallway.
“Don’t do this. I’m not worth it. I think he just wants to keep me away from the Costa family. And, you know, we’ve already solved that dilemma.”
“Sailor.”
I couldn't go on. There were plenty of things I wanted to say to her, but we didn't have time.
“I just wanted to warn you so you wouldn't fall into his trap. Don't die for me.”
My father came down the hall, saving me from coming up with a response.
“Is she on the phone? Give it to me.”
Handing over my phone, I listened to his half of the conversation, wishing I’d put it on speakerphone first.
“Listen, cara mio, tell me where you are.”
I wanted to do something. I needed to take action, not stand around and wait. But Dad had my phone, and no one else was there. I couldn't simply order someone to go get her, not that I was even sure that was the right thing to do.
“I understand. Take care of yourself, and stick to texting from now on.”
Giving me my phone, Dad put his hand on my back to steer me out the side doors. Roman Barrett and John Brennan stood just outside, and a black SUV pulled up to the curb behind them.
“We know he’ll make his demands soon enough. The tail we had on him was found with a bullet in the back of the head a few minutes ago.”
Twisting further, my stomach threatened to revolt as we climbed into the vehicle together. It was only recently that I’d begun to eat more normally, but I suddenly regretted it.
“Lombardi was successfully taken out just a short while ago,” he continued.
“So only Matteo deviated from the day’s plans.”
“Looks like it,” he said as we sped away from the wedding reception. “Almost as if he knew we’d planned to retaliate today.”
“There’s little way of finding Sailor before he wants us to, unless you happen to know where his compound is.”
Dad shook his head, holding onto the door handle as we took a corner too sharply. “He’ll set up a swap location away from his house. Most likely, she won’t even be there.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.” I rubbed my palms on my pants. “She told me not to do it.”
“Not to meet with him?” he clarified. “She told me the same.”
“But we have to.” Clearing my throat, I added, “Because she’s not involved with us. She’s innocent.”
“Is that why?” he said with amusement.
I glared at him. “Do you have something to say, old man?”
“You should have seen how pale you got when you told me Sailor contacted you.”
“We’re not doing this dance until this is settled. Matteo Franco needs to die today, no exceptions.”
As the vehicle straightened out, he turned to look at me. “Oh, I agree. But how we’ll manage to do it is the problem.”
“Can the Russos help? They’ve been our friends lately.”
“I can always call Leo and see what he’s willing to do for us.”
It felt like a long shot, but it was all we had.
Dad picked up his phone, dialing while I stared out my window.
We were heading to the warehouse district to meet with some of our other men, hoping that was the area Matteo was headed to and we’d find him there.
In the meantime, I was hoping someone could come up with a brilliant strategy.
Since I’d turned my sound back on, my phone went off, and I glanced down at it.
Matteo said he set up my father because he wanted to take over, and Dad wouldn't even acknowledge him in his organization. He was the violent one, not Carmine.
Dropping my head into my hands, I massaged my temples as I stared at her words. So I’d done it all for nothing. People had died, she’d been orphaned, and it was the actions of a crazy man that set those plans in motion.
“Leo said he can have snipers set up wherever Matteo asks us to meet. Also, he’s going to ask that fence jumper of his if they know where the asshole lives.”
“I’d prefer to cover both bases, honestly.”
It was hard for me to concentrate when Sailor’s revelation replayed through my thoughts.
All these years later, and Matteo was somehow still steering the ship.
My fate had never been my own; that was something I’d known practically since birth, but it seemed my father wasn’t the one holding the puppet strings either.
“We have an address,” Dad announced, but it was too soon to feel relieved.
“Should we go to his house or wait for him to send an invite to another location?”
“We’ll split the men,” he responded, already on his phone. “Some can go to the house to see if it’s the right address and if she’s even there.”
I needed the fucker to go ahead and ask me to meet him somewhere. The delay was only making me anxious.
“The Russo men are heading to the warehouse district now. They’ll likely beat us there, so if anyone is hanging around, they’ll let us know.”
“You’re going to owe Leo even more money after this.”
He shrugged. “Can’t take it with you.”
She was worth it, regardless of how much money the Russos might ask for in exchange for helping us out. If I had to live with my father for the rest of my life, completely broke, I would do it for her.
I knew I still loved her, but it had been too easy to blame her for everything that went wrong as though we weren't both pawns in a bigger scheme. Taking a full breath had been nearly impossible lately, even after I quit drinking myself into a stupor. Numbing the pain had only been a temporary solution, knowing that once I sobered up, I would continue to miss the woman who’d left me hollowed out.
There was no denying that once I got over my bitterness, I needed her back by my side.
Night after night, all I wanted was to open my eyes and find her lying next to me.
Too bad she hated me, and with good reason. If not for these circumstances, we wouldn't even be speaking to each other.
Dad began talking at the same time I received a text. Ignoring him for the moment, I swiped open my phone.
I hear them coming.
My chest tightened. Find somewhere to hide.
That was probably impossible. They would have put her in a room with no escape and no hiding spots.
“Did you hear me?” Dad asked. “Our men have arrived at a white house with blue shutters.”
“It’s too late,” I murmured, focusing on her next text. “They’re moving her.”
I’m not afraid to die.
“Goddammit.” Typing furiously, I tried to find the right words. I wanted to reassure her that she wasn't going to die, but how did I know that?
“What’s wrong?” Dad asked.
“She said they’re coming into the room now.” My heartbeat was slow enough that I felt my blood moving like sludge through my veins.
I have my answers, she said. I’ve known love.
“We have to move faster toward the house and intercept them!” I shouted. “She’s fucking ready to die over this.”
Sailor, hold on. We took a turn, and I nearly dropped my phone. We’re coming.
There was no response, and I had no way of knowing whether that was because they were in the room and she couldn't use her watch anymore, or because they’d hurt her immediately. If she was on the move, we might have a better chance of overtaking the vehicle than scaling the walls of his compound.
Interrupting my thoughts, Dad said, “We can’t know if he’s left the house yet or if he’s still there. If we go to her location, we miss out on the chance to kill him once and for all.”
“No.” I shook my head harshly. “Let the Russos take him out. We need to get to Sailor.”
I could tell he wanted to argue with me, but he kept his mouth shut.
There were men at both locations, but it wasn't the same if I wasn't at one of them myself. At least I had confirmation that she was at the house for the next few minutes.
“Son,” my father said quietly, pressing his hand over mine. “We’ll get to her in time, I promise.”
He couldn't be sure of that. One thing I knew without a doubt: the end of Sailor’s life would be the end of mine.