CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
Achilles
“You’re fucking kidding me.” I let out a fiery breath.
Luca screwed his fingers into his eye sockets. “I don’t know how it happened.”
“You don’t know how it happ… Turn the fucking plane around!”
“We’re on it, dude. Chillax.” Enzo dropped a hand on my shoulder. I swatted it off, darting to my feet and bulldozing toward the cockpit.
“Don’t tell me to calm the fuck down.”
Coppola was in New York and heading straight toward my apartment.
Luca just got off the phone with Sam Brennan, who’d put a tracker on Stefano’s favorite Rolex for the measly sum of 400,000 euros.
We’d been tracking him for weeks now. There was a slight chance the watch’s location—which was currently between Newark and Manhattan—was a trick to lure us back to New York, but I doubted it.
This particular Rolex belonged to Stefano’s slain father.
He’d part ways with his kidneys before giving up the family heirloom.
No, he was in New York.
And heading in Tierney’s direction, while I was forty-five thousand feet above the Atlantic Ocean.
“He could be going to my apartment,” Luca pointed out.
“Your apartment has Jeremie guarding it,” I hissed back. “I’m not worried about your family. Plus, Coppola’s beef is with me. Turn the plane around,” I roared at our pilot.
“We’re about to take the turn. It’s been cleared with APIS.” Our pilot flicked his gaze to the turn coordinator. “Forty minutes and you’re there.”
“You need to take a deep breath.” Enzo plopped down on a recliner, lighting a cigarette. “You’re probably going to beat Stefano to the apartment with the New York traffic. Have you tried calling her again?”
I had. Again.
And again.
And a-motherfucking-gain.
She wasn’t picking up. It hadn’t even been that long since she’d dropped me off.
“This can be fixed with one phone call,” Luca mused from his spot on the upholstered lounger. “Carmine and Antonio are doing laps around your building. Say the word and they’ll go up there.” He flicked his wrist to check his Patek Phillippe.
Lacing my fingers at the back of my neck, I swore softly.
I promised her no security, but this was an emergency. If it was up to betraying her but saving her or following her instructions blindly and risking her life, I knew which one I’d choose.
Maybe she’d never forgive me, but at least I’d save her.
I dropped my head between my shoulders. “Make the call.”
My phone started ringing. Tierney’s name flashed on the screen.
Oh, thank fuck.
“Where have you been?” I growled.
“Easy there, tiger. It hasn’t been a full hour.” Her easy laughter filled my ears. “I’m driving. Must’ve gone into a tunnel when you called. What’s up?”
“Sangue Blu is on his way to our apartment.” I motioned for Luca to cut the call with Antonio and Carmine. They weren’t necessary anymore. “We’re making a U-turn now. I want you to drive to your brother’s place and stay there until I come get you.”
She bristled. “When’s he gonna get there?”
“Did you hear what I just said?”
“Yeah. I’m just wondering if I have time to pee. I’m almost there.”
“Don’t go up.” I managed to keep the desperation from my voice. Barely. The need to rip my skin apart for not being there to protect her clawed its way to my throat. “He should be there any minute.”
“You prefer me in Irish territory?”
I’d prefer her in Bratva territory, too. Anything was better than Coppola.
“Tierney,” I warned. “Don’t fuck with me. I gave you an order. I don’t do it often.”
“Okay, okay,” she sighed. “I’ll go straight to Tiernan and Lila’s.”
I closed my eyes and forced my heartbeat to slow. “Thank you.”