Chapter 17
Seventeen
Marchello
I had to strike back. But was it the right move? Did I come from a position of strength, or had I inserted my family deeper into this battle?
What is my father going to think?
“Marchello,” Lucas said. “There’s a key shipment coming into the port tonight. Collins is overseeing it.”
“The one they have been waiting to move,” I said.
“That means it is important to Gallanti and Bello.” Milo handed me a drink. “Our intel has the three of them working together to bring this shipment in. The port authority is going to look the other way.”
“This operation cost them a fortune to set up.” I leaned back in my chair. “I’m starting to think the three of them working together wasn’t an accident.”
“Someone set them in motion,” Lucas said. “I’ve been going through your father’s papers, and I’m trying to see if anything stands out. Any unusual requests he may have had before he left.”
“Do you think whoever Gallanti is working with may have approached our father first?” Milo asked.
“It’s possible.” Lucas glanced at me. “It might help explain the threats your father received.”
“Let me know if anything jumps out at you,” I said. “Gallanti is a threat, but if he isn’t the reason my father was forced underground, I need to figure out who is.”
“Gallanti has to be dealt with,” Lucas said. “Is that a task you’re prepared for?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
I gazed out the window as Ricardo hurried across the wet lawn. Why is he walking around in the rain?
Both he and Lissia had kept their distance from me in the past twenty-four hours. Or maybe it was me who kept my distance from her. I found it difficult to focus when she was in my presence. Taking the next step in retaliation against her father required a mindset I didn’t have when I was with her.
“Have you considered coming back to the dealership?” Lucas looked at Milo and then to me. “Your presence in the city is required.”
“We’ve been over this,” I said.
“Chello.” Milo set his glass on the table. “If you’re not going to listen to me, listen to Lucas. He knows what Dad would want.”
I respected Lucas. And Milo was right when he said Lucas would know what our father would want, but our father wasn’t here.
“Lucas, I’ll hear you out, but I have other factors to consider. It’s not as easy as me walking out of here and resuming my life. I’m sure you can appreciate that.”
“You have gotten yourself into a mess,” Lucas said. “But it isn’t one we can’t get out of. We can probably negotiate something with Gallanti.”
“Negotiate what? He sabotaged one of my shipments and vandalized my dealership. I’m supposed to make a deal with him and forget everything?”
“I didn’t say that.” Lucas held up his hand when Milo offered him another drink. “This problem you created with his daughter has to be resolved.”
“How do you suggest I do that?” I asked.
“Let her go,” Lucas said. “Gallanti and Collins will deal with her, and you’ll get back to business. No more distractions.”
I glared at Milo.
“I didn’t tell him to say that,” my brother said.
“What if she doesn’t want to go back?” I asked.
“That is not your problem.” Lucas pointed at me. “We’ve let this go on long enough. She is not your responsibility. She has a father and a man who is waiting to marry her.”
“No.” I slammed my fist on the table. “She never agreed to marry him. She doesn’t want to marry Collins. I won’t send her back.”
“Marchello,” Lucas said. “Let’s be reasonable. You cannot divide your focus and take on another battle. If Gallanti turns out not to be the reason your father had to abandon his territory, then we will have to place all our efforts on fighting the real enemy.”
“We’re going to have to come at this from another angle. Do you understand?” I rubbed my temple. “Even if Gallanti isn’t responsible for my father’s current situation, he is most definitely coming for the territory, which makes him a threat.”
“We’re dealing with the threat,” Milo said. “We’re taking out the shipment.”
“Let’s focus on that.” I looked at Lucas. “Am I clear?”
“Fine,” Lucas said. “I’ll do what you ask.”
“My father trusts me with this. Initially, I made a mistake when I took Lissia, but that action may have opened up other doors for us. We can turn this around.”
“You have to concentrate on everything. Not just Gian’s daughter.” Lucas stood and buttoned his suit jacket.
“What are you saying?” I asked.
“It means you crossed the line with your hostage.” He waved his hand to prevent me from speaking, and while I didn’t like being dismissed, I would hear him out. “It’s written all over your face. You’re emotionally involved, and I know your father wouldn’t appreciate that.”
Milo shifted in his chair.
“That’s not your concern,” I said. My father’s stance on feelings and business were crystal clear. I had broken his rules and allowed Lissia to make me do things I shouldn’t have.
“You’ve gotten too far off course. You put your family in the middle of a war, and you don’t have the benefit of your father’s advice.”
“We have you,” Milo said. “We trust you.”
“Do you?” Lucas looked at me.
“Of course we trust you.” I held my hands up. “You have to trust me.”
“I’m trying,” Lucas said. “But right now, you’re going rogue, and that doesn’t sit well with me.”
“Once we hit back, we’ll have a better perspective. We can throw Gallanti off his game, and Bello will fall in line.”
“And Collins?” Lucas arched a brow. “He’s a loose cannon. He has no allegiance to our organization or the way we do things. He doesn’t come from men like us.”
“Then he’ll lose,” I said. “We’ll destroy him.”
“He didn’t even try to hide hitting the dealership.” Lucas shook his head. “He’s coming for you because you have something he wants. That’s a problem you don’t need.”
“This is what I’ve been trying to tell you,” Milo said. “No more distractions.”
“I’m not distracted.” I leaned back in my chair. “Just because I’m not in the city, doesn’t mean I can’t run things.”
Ricardo hurried into the room, disheveled, flustered, and dripping with rain.
“I’m sorry. I, uh…” He motioned toward the window, peering out of it as if he searched for something…or someone. “I apologize for interrupting.”
“What do you want?” I stood.
The ire in my tone was obvious; I still wasn’t over how he cared for Lissia. Or how she responded to him. She needed him in a way she didn’t need me. He was her friend. Her confidant. Their relationship shouldn’t have bothered me, but it did.
I should have listened to my father. There was a reason we didn’t let women get in the way.
“We’re in the middle of something,” I said. “So make it quick.”
“It’s probably nothing.” Ricardo gazed out the window again.
“Why don’t you let us decide if it’s something?” Milo glanced at me. “We don’t need the diversion.”
Fuck off.
“It’s, ah, Lissia,” he said.
“What about Lissia?” I stepped toward him. “Where is she?”
“She went for a walk, but I thought she would be back by now.”
“You’re her fucking guard,” I shouted. “You’re supposed to stay with her.”
“I didn’t think it would be a problem for her to go for a quick walk,” he said. “She’s been stressed and worried about her mother. She wanted to get some air. She promised she wouldn’t go far.”
“She wanted to get some air?” I shoved him. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Marchello.” Milo stepped between us. “Settle down.”
“How long has she been gone?” I asked.
“About an hour.”
“A fucking hour?” I slammed my hand against the wall. “And you just decided to come to me with this?”
“I was trying to resolve it on my own,” Ricardo said. “I’ve searched the property, but when the storm came in, I had to stop looking for about twenty minutes.”
“So, she’s out there by herself?” I held back my fist from connecting with my useless guard’s face. If I punched him now, it would only prove Lucas’ point.
“Or she’s gone,” Milo said.
“She wouldn’t.” I clenched my fists.
There was a possibility she would run, especially after our last conversation. But she would be stupid not to realize she was safer with me than she was with her own father. Fuck. If she thought she could leave and get away from Collins, there was a chance that she could flee.
“Fix this!” I pointed at Ricardo. “Get out there and find her. If you don’t bring her back, I’ll slit your fucking throat.”
Ricardo nodded as he turned and darted out of the room.
“What is the point of him being here?” I threw my hands up. “He had one job.”
“Weren’t these the distractions I said we didn’t need?” Lucas checked his watch. “You tell me you’re focused, but you can’t even finish a meeting without losing your captive.”
“That’s not what happened.”
If she ran from me, I’d bring her back here and make her suffer the consequences.
“How do you suggest I report back to your father when he asks what kind of job you’re doing?” Lucas asked. “Do you think he would be impressed?”
“The last time I checked, I was in charge, not you, Lucas. And right now, my father isn’t here to handle his business. I’m doing everything I can to keep us on top.”
“We know you’re doing everything you can,” Milo said. “Everyone knows you were left with a difficult situation.”
I hated to admit it, but they were right. I couldn’t concentrate on what needed to be done because I needed to find Lissia. Why would she leave me? Because you’re a heartless jerk!
“Lucas.” I stepped toward him. “I respect you because my father values your opinion, but you have to understand that you work for me in his absence.”
“I’m not disputing that,” Lucas said. “But my job is to make sure you are prepared for anything.”
“I expect you to show me the same respect you show my father. Is that understood?” I asked. “Because if you can’t do that, I’ll find someone who can.”
“That won’t be necessary.” Milo put his hand on my shoulder. “Lucas knows his role here. We need his counsel.”
“I’ll continue to provide it.” Lucas nodded at me. “I meant no disrespect. This family means a great deal to me.”
“I need the two of you to carry out what we discussed,” I said. “Make sure that shipment doesn’t get to its final destination. I don’t care what you have to do to make that happen.”
“We will handle it.” Milo motioned toward the hallway. “Lucas, let’s head back to the city.”
I walked with them down the hall and to the door, trying to keep my composure, but all I could concentrate on was finding Lissia. Ricardo had given her an hour’s head start. Although she wouldn’t get far on foot in the woods, her attempt to escape would make me use resources that could be better spent elsewhere, like intercepting the shipment.
As I opened the front door, Lissia’s hand must have been on the doorknob outside because she stumbled into my arms.
“Oh!” She held onto me.
“Where were you?” I looked her over, taking in her wet clothes and soaked hair. I wanted to hold back my anger and care for her, but she had made me look foolish in front of my brother and advisor.
“I went for a walk.” She let go of me. “I got caught in the storm and had to wait it out in the old barn down by the lake.”
“Well, I’m glad that’s resolved.” Milo stepped around us. “You had the beast pretty worried about you.”
“The beast?” Lissia asked.
“Yeah, you know, like with the princess who reads the books and the beast who holds her hostage.” Milo laughed. “Just like you two.”
“Get out and do your fucking job.” I shoved the door open. “Call me when it’s done.”
“Have fun with him,” Milo said as he and Lucas stepped onto the porch. “He’s in a foul mood.”
I slammed the door before Milo could irritate me any further. When I turned around, Lissia was strolling toward the stairs.
“Where are you going?” I moved in front of her, blocking her from going upstairs.
“To take a shower,” she said. “I’m freezing.”
“Do you have any idea how you made me look in front of them?”
“No.” She slipped off her muddy shoes and removed her sopping wet socks.
“They think I’m distracted and can’t run my business.”
“And that’s my fault, how?” She shivered. “I went for a walk.”
“You won’t be doing that anymore.”
“Why not?”
“From now on, you’ll take Ricardo with you.”
I didn’t know how much longer Ricardo would be employed, but for now, I needed him here to watch her.
“Not that he can manage to look after you,” I said.
“This isn’t his fault. I needed a few minutes alone.” She wiped away the wet hair that stuck to her cheek. “You can’t control every second of my day.”
“You want to bet?”
“I’m serious, Marchello.” She gazed into my eyes. “I’m drained. I’m tired of fighting with you.”
“Then stop making my life so difficult.”
“I’m making your life difficult? You’re not the one being held captive by a brutal, uncaring mob boss who has no regard for your feelings.”
Is she fucking serious? I almost lost my shit in front of my father’s most trusted advisor because I thought she walked out on me. How did I get here?
“I went for a walk to clear my head because, in case you haven’t noticed, you’re not the only one who has family issues. I’m sleeping with the enemy.”
“And I’m not? I’ve created all kinds of problems for my organization.”
She had the nerve to stand there and act like she was making some sort of sacrifice? I was the one who put it all on the line to help her.
“I’m cold, wet, and dirty.” She put her hand on her hip.
If she wanted to be defiant, I would show her how I would deal with that.
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” she said. “I went for a walk on the property. I didn’t try to escape, although I’m not sure why I didn’t.”
“You wouldn’t have gotten very far.”
“You’re right.” She pointed to the hole in her jeans that exposed her knee. “It started raining, and I ran to take cover. I turned my ankle and fell, but don’t worry, you brute, I’m fine.”
“You’re not going to be fine when I’m finished with you.” I pointed to the stairs because I had finally had enough of whatever this was between us. “Get upstairs.”