CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Az
We'd returned to the manor to find three bodies, and Rich passed out in front of the camera room door. Victoria's ragged sobs had echoed through the house over the intercom. When I'd punched in the code to deactivate the panic room, I'd found her hugging her knees as she wailed. I'd gathered her in my arms as the others called Harrison in to help Rich and then focused on dealing with the bodies and the damage done to the manor.
I stood near the entryway to the great room, watching as Victoria now fussed over Rich, who sat propped up by pillows on the couch. Harrison had assured us that he was fine. He hadn't passed out from his injuries but from shock, and now that he'd been stitched up, he wasn't in any danger. With our concern for Rich assuaged, Joey and Leighton couldn't avoid cracking jokes at his expense.
"I can't believe you fainted, you pussy," Leighton snickered.
Victoria's head snapped toward him, and she scowled. "He killed those guys to keep me safe, and it almost killed him!"
"Nah, Harrison said both shots were through and throughs and none of his injuries were to anything vital. He just fainted like a little bitch." Leighton laughed, shoving Rich's shoulder playfully.
Rich hissed. "That hurt you fuck! I've been shot!"
"Yeah, we've all been there. You got it looked at," Joey chuckled. "Harrison said you're fine as long as you keep the wounds clean. This isn't even the worst you've had happen, you big baby. You're just playing it up, so Victoria will dote on you."
Leighton looked at Joey with a barely contained laugh. The moment Joey noticed, they both devolved into a bout of laughter.
"What's so funny about this?! He could have died!" Victoria screeched at them.
Joey worked to get his laughter under control before he responded.
"I get it's upsetting, Sweetheart, but he didn't die, and he's going to be fine. You heard what Harrison said, and I promise you he's lived through much worse." Joey assured her.
Victoria turned her attention back to Rich with a huff just as Craig stepped into the room and stopped beside me.
"He's eating that shit up, huh?" Craig chuckled, nodding toward the couch.
"I suppose it's only fair considering he might not live down passing out." I replied. "How's it coming with the repairs?"
"They should be done this afternoon. I called in two crews when we got back last night and paid them an insane amount of money to make sure it's done quick."
"Any idea how someone managed to pull this shit off? I thought Kristoff and James were on guard last night. Nobody should have been able to get past those two psychopaths."
Craig sighed. "I don't know, man. It looks like someone knew when Leighton's last two crazies would be making rounds and set up a diversion on the far side of the property to draw everyone's attention there. I've already drawn up a list of everyone supposed to be on security detail last night and gave it to Joey so he can figure out if one of them is the mole that made it possible."
"Good. We need answers and fucking fast." I replied.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out before Craig to say anything else. A number I didn't know flashed on the screen as I quickly tapped to answer the call.
"Hello?" I spoke into the receiver.
"I heard you're looking for me." A male voice responded.
"Rinaldo," I drawled. "I wasn't expecting you so soon."
"You've been in this game, how long now, Casadei? Ten, twelve years? You should know that word travels fast." He replied.
"Am I to assume you've decided to accept our request for a meeting, then?" I asked, ignoring his subtle jab.
"I have. I find I'm quite curious to know what you have to say about keeping my property from me. I will be waiting at Buon Appetito. Three p.m., don't be late."
"Now, now, Rinaldo, you know that isn't neutral ground. I'd have to be suicidal to agree to meet there."
"Maybe you aren't as dense as I thought, Casadei," He laughed. "I suppose if you insist on neutral ground, we can meet at the Spotted Cobra. The time remains the same. Three p.m., not a minute later or I'll assume you've chosen not to discuss the return of my property and you won't be given another chance to make this right."
"Fine, three it is." I gritted out.
"Good boy," Rinaldo cooed before ending the call abruptly.
Craig caught my attention, raising one brow in question.
"Rinaldo agreed to the meet." I told him.
"That was fast. We just sent out word last night." He said. "You think he got word before what went down last night?"
"It would be a hell of a coincidence if not, but I don't think we can know for sure. You think Rich had a chance to fill the Princess in on our plan?" I asked, nodding toward where she was fluffing the pillows behind Rich on the couch.
Craig shrugged, following my gaze. "Only one way to find out."
I nodded, blowing out a breath before we moved in unison toward the others.
"We have the meet," I spoke, causing the four of them to snap their attention to me. "Three o'clock today."
Rich shifted forward on the couch like he intended to stand before Victoria pressed her hand gently to his chest.
"You're not going anywhere." She told him. "You need to rest and heal."
"She's right," I added. "Leighton will stay here with you and the Princess. Craig and Joey will come with me to the meeting. If everything goes the way we hope, we'll have bought the Princess's freedom by the time we get home."
"Good," Victoria nodded, shocking the hell out of me.
"I guess he did get a chance to talk to her," Craig chortled.
I pulled my Porsche into the gravel parking lot of the Cobra at ten til three. Craig, Joey, and I all climbed from the car before walking shoulder to shoulder into the bar. My eyes narrowed as I caught sight of Rinaldo in a booth near the back, his arm sprawled across the top of his seat while he chatted with one of his men.
"Ah, you made it." He grinned when we stopped beside the table. "Have a seat. I suspect we have a lot to discuss."
Joey slid into the seat opposite Rinaldo, followed by me, then Craig. Once we were settled, Craig waved his hand to catch Mag's attention. She nodded in acknowledgment before grabbing three glasses and pouring two fingers of whiskey into each.
"Gentlemen," she said in greeting as she placed the glasses in front of us. "You know the rules."
Craig mumbled an agreement that seemed to appease her, and she strolled back to the bar.
"So," Rinaldo started. "You have my property."
"We do." I gritted out. "Though I'm curious how much you paid for her. She's quite the prize. We'd be happy to take her off your hands more permanently."
Rinaldo's arm dropped from the back of his bench seat, and he leaned forward. "That is an interesting offer, but I fear you're mistaken. She was a gift. It would be rude of me to let her go to someone else."
Craig and Joey stiffened on either side of me. "A gift? That's not what we've heard." I replied, keeping my face blank.
"Yes, a gift, Casadei. Unlike you, our Don knows how to properly reward our loyalty."
"And if I offered your Don double what he paid for the girl? Would he still allow you to keep your reward ?" I pressed.
"You know as well as anyone, Casadei, there is no getting to the Don." Rinaldo snorted.
"Oh, that's right." I said with a malicious grin. "Not even the Jackals know who their boss is. You're his second in command and not even you know who's running the show."
Rinaldo's eyes narrowed, his palms pressing against the worn wooden table as he leaned closer. "And yet, we've managed to interfere with horsemen business, what? Four times in the last month? It seems knowing who the boss is hasn't stopped your men from betraying you."
"And it seems yours hasn't bothered to step in and ensure you reclaim your gift." I snarled. "You've been relegated to threatening texts and murdering cops in a weak attempt to intimidate her into your clutches."
"I'd hardly call showing her who she belongs to threatening." Rinaldo laughed, his posture relaxing slightly. "Though it seems it is a lesson she has yet to truly learn. I can only imagine what she's done to garner such intense interest from you, Casadei, but whatever it is, is no matter. She belongs to me, and I expect to have her returned."
"And if we refuse?"
Rinaldo tilted his head, studying me as he considered my words. "I believe I've shown you well enough now how easy it is for my men to get to yours. I'll give you some time to consider whether you wish to hand her over peacefully or if you'd prefer to find each of your men murdered in their beds before I take her by force." He nodded to his men and slid from the booth, tossing a few bills on the table. "I'm sure you'll make the right choice."
"Fuck," Joey hissed once Rinaldo and his men had left the bar. "That didn't go down the way we hoped."
"No, it didn't." I replied, shaking my head.
"You think he was serious about giving us time?" Craig asked. "That seems a little risky, considering it would also give us time to prepare for a fight."
"Rinaldo is an arrogant prick, and as long as he's got a mole in our organization, he's going to think he can take us out." I sighed, motioning for Craig to let us out of the booth. "It's time to call your best people. We need this mole found before we go to war."