Chapter 43 Tommaso
Tommaso
“They have her.” Riccardo studies me, hanging up the phone. “Zeus was shot.”
I drag my hand over my chin. The operation was risky as hell. I needed Gina away from the house when the explosion happened, and Vincenzo saw to it. But Papà assured me he could control Arturo.
“It was one of Arturo’s men who shot Zeus,” Riccardo adds. “He killed one of them at least.”
“How is he?” Marco asks.
“Vincenzo said he’ll live. His surgeon was onsite with a full medical team.”
“How many of his men were killed in the breach attack?” I ask.
We knew of Arturo’s plan because our father had come clean and finally pulled his sons in, as he should’ve from the start of this shitshow.
“None.”
We knew the breach attack was coming, and that it was meant to be a diversion. Their main goal was to grab Gina—Arturo, still thinking he was working with Vincenzo, had sent a team of his lowest-ranking men for the breach attack on the front gates.
“How many of Arturo’s men lived?” Marco asks.
“None,” Riccardo says darkly. “And good fucking riddance.”
I grab the duffel bag of ammo and swing it over my shoulder, anxious to get into position so I’m there when Gina arrives. Marco mirrors my action, his duffel bag full of guns and explosives. If the plan goes as I hope, we won’t need all this, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
It was risky as fuck to let Arturo get his hands on Gina, but unfortunately, there was no other play. I’ve spent all week trying to find an alternative.
I’m not using Gina as bait, but I’m also not not using her as bait while controlling as many of the variables as fucking possible.
We still don’t know who the fourth party involved in this is; we only know it’s a ‘Ndrangheta Don. Our father hasn’t been able to discover it in all the months he’s been investigating this.
This is why he agreed to the marriage between Rosa and me—he was trying to make Arturo trust him, yet the bastard still wouldn’t divulge it.
But today, it ends.
Because they have Gina, who they needed for the deal to go through, because the unknown fourth party involved wanted her as security. And as a prize.
I nearly bust my teeth grinding them at the thought.
Caruso had planned to hand her over when he was finalizing the deal with Emanuele, but Vincenzo killing his father—which is still only known by Gina and me—put a wrench in that plan, and then I had hidden Gina away from the world for the past few months.
But today, all guilty parties will be present. They think they’re getting Gina and will be hiding that they’re breaking our laws by going after my wife and the mother of my child. But Arturo and the other ‘Ndrangheta Don won’t be walking out alive.
Riccardo catches my arm before I head to the door. He looks between Marco and me, concern coating his features. “You’re sure you can trust Vincenzo?”
“I’m positive.”
Neither of my brothers knows what I have over him. They exchange a look but don’t question me further.
I place a hand on each of their shoulders. “Family above all.”
“Santoros above all,” they reply in unison.
This is what our family does: we protect our own.
“Let’s go get your wife, fratello.” Riccardo grins. “I want to meet the woman who brought the lion to his knees.”