18. Vincenzo
Vincenzo
I should have told her sooner but something about that night has had me and Nicolo up nights trying to figure it out.
There could have been plenty of people who saw my angel walk into the club the first time, or even the second time, but the fact they had a driver there at the very same time that she ran.
Now that we’ve had time to think about it, it sits heavily on my mind.
Terry pulls into the warehouse and waits as the hidden garage door opens before moving the vehicle forward. I turn to Saint. “This is the safe hospital. You’ll spill your blood and your life before you ever disclose the location, capisce?”
Saint’s dark eyes meet mine. “Understood, boss. I’ll go to the grave with it.”
I nod and the doors close behind us. The cameras are in place for our security teams watching to ensure that we’re safe. The voice on the overhead speaker says “You’re in, proceed.”
Best thing we ever did was to invest in the military trained bodyguards who have more skills at protecting us and taking our targets out than we would have alone.
But still, walking into a land mine, a trap, or a deal that I know could go bad in a blink of an eye with an enemy is nothing compared to knowing I’m bringing the love of my life into danger when I swore to love and protect her at all costs.
The closer we get to the hospital the worse I feel. Pa told me so many years ago to trust my gut well right now my guts are tied up in a bunch of knots. The phone only Pa uses rings. I pull it from my pocket. “Where the fuck are you?” I growl, noticing Anna’s upraised brows.
Pa sounds tired but resolute. “I got caught up, but I’m clear now.”
“Ma’s been taken back to surgery. She’s not doing well but with surgery we’re hopeful.”
Pa is silent for just a moment. He knows he doesn’t have much time before the secure line is traceable by our enemies or the feds. “Have someone pick me up at the spot we use to fish.”
I inhale a deep breath and don’t even answer. One place where no one fucking knows but the two of us. The very place that Anna almost got captured only so many nights ago. I send a message with the pick-up spot to Ice, who has to already be free of the chase by now, to pick my father up.
It’s a gamble but all of our regulars are here protecting us, protecting the family and I need someone who will make sure that Pa gets off that boat, and to this hospital in time to see my ma in case she dies.
No matter the risk, the love they have, that they’ve had for all the years of my child and adult- hood, knowing what he gave up for her and that she’ll never forgive me for not letting her see him for the very last time, all of it haunts my mind. Ice rings in. “You clear of heat?”
“Yep, a long time ago.”
“Good. I need you to head to go pick someone up for me. I’ll send you the coordinates and I swear if you share this shit with anyone, I will skin you alive myself and feed you to the fucking fish, capisce?”
“You don’t have to worry about me, boss.”
In my heart I know I don’t but in this world you can’t fucking trust anyone. It’s the one rule pappa taught me and I’m still holding on today but trying to let go where Anna is concerned.
At some point, I’m going to have to expand our family, put my trust into men who have been with us for years but could just as easily turn against us.
I inhale a deep breath. Saint I’ve grown up with.
Hell he may as well be one of us as close to me and my brothers as he is.
Ice, I don’t know him as well but he’s been with our family for almost fifteen years.
Pa trusted him and he’s led our soldiers out in the streets for as long as I can remember.
Pa trusted him and so do I. I can’t relinquish Saint, I need him here to help protect the family.
I send Ice the coordinates. It’s not far, but it’s not out in plain sight either by design.
Anna doesn’t say a word until we pull up to the hospital that is on no registry and no map.
Every single thing about this underground safe house and hospital is intended to keep it quiet, give us more time and ensure that we have the upper hand in this family mafia war we find ourselves in.
I take Anna’s hand as our men open the doors of our vehicle. Anna and I exit the vehicle, surrounded by our most trusted men as we walk through the tunnel until we reach the spot where everything is not what it appears. From here, no one, not even our trusted men, know how to enter.
I push my finger against the panel, letting the electronic eye pick it up and sync to the computer program that opens the door to the DeLuca’s underground safe house and hospital.
It opens on a computerized automation. Anna’s eyes are large and round. “Holy shit,” she says. “I’m not sure what you are dragging me into but if it’s a safe house, it’s amazing.”
I meet Saint’s eyes. “Nothing about this place gets out.”
He doesn’t say a word, just gives me the same old nod he’s been giving me for years.
Solid, trustworthy, and a man who is very soon going to be a made man.
On that Nicolo and the other brothers firmly agree.
More like a brother than an employee, he’s protected our asses for a lifetime.
It’s high time we bring him deeper into the fold.
The elevator takes us upstairs and Nicolo meets us as we exit the car. He claps Saint on the back and gives me a look of approval as I place a hand at the softness of Anna’s lower back. She looks up and down the hall and then back at me. “You have your own hospital?”
The question catches me off guard as does the look on her face. “We do.”
Anna looks around the front entrance of the hospital that is more elite than any other ever designed, we made damn sure of that. Our family knew it was going to be needed at one time or another, just not for our mother. “It’s an entire hospital?”
“Surgery rooms, procedure rooms, recovery rooms, and private spaces in case the family needs to stay here long term for any reason.”
“Unbelievable. I know the Cassones never had something like this.”
His eyebrow arches.
“At least I was never privy to knowing anything like that. I just hope your mom is comfortable and comes through this with no issues.”
I lean down. “Let’s go see Ma, Lanah, and my brothers. I’m anxious to introduce you to all of them now that you’ve said I do.”
Anna gives me a reassuring smile and takes my hand. “Let’s go see everyone and make sure your mamma is okay.”