26. Vincenzo
Vincenzo
I let Nicolo in. He’s careful not to say anything in front of Anna but my little brother doesn’t need to say a word.
I see the concern in his eyes. If I hadn’t felt every bit of Anna’s need to feel freedom if only for a short while I would have said no, an emphatic hell no, not with that lunatic Bastian Gallini running around but knowing she snuck out and left the protection of her brother-in-law and sister for the very same reason, that’s not a chance I can take.
If she needs this so bad, she’ll have it, but only with an army of DeLucas protecting her. “It’s done?” I ask Nicolo.
“Everything you asked for is in place.” Knowing that my brother would have followed my instruction down to the finest detail and wouldn’t deviate from my plan and knowing our men and especially Terry and Saint will not let anyone through is the only reason I feel confident having Anna outside out all.
My brother keeps our relationship and our roles in the organization separate most times, but this isn’t one of them. “Any word on Pa that you can tell me?”
I clap him on the back. “He made the journey back safe. I wouldn’t bet against Pa. Far better than that Massini fuck have tried to take us under.”
“Thanks Vincenzo.”
“It’s a relief that you know now.”
Nicolo gives me a look of appreciation and follows me into the living room where Anna looks out into the evening. She turns as we get closer. “Nicolo, how nice to see you.”
“Good to see you too, Anna. Vincenzo tells me we’re going out tonight.”
Anna looks sheepish. “I’m sorry, I’m probably dragging you away from a fun filled night of something.”
His eyes light up with mischief. “Plans for the ménage a trois I had planned in my penthouse later, up in smoke. But I’ll be the dutiful brother and go out with you two tonight instead.”
Anna laughs and gives him a gentle smile. “I bet you’re not even teasing.”
Nicolo grins. “You two ready to go? The boys are outside, and Terry’s bringing the car around. We’ll have an army surrounding us, so don’t be alarmed,” he tells Anna.
“Thank you for going to the trouble to keep us safe tonight. I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t really just need some fresh air. I’m sorry to be trouble.”
Nicolo shakes his head. “No, I can imagine the need for fresh air. We’re doing this. “
Four of our enforcers meet us as we walk out the door.
I give them each a nod of thanks as I walk out of the safety of my penthouse.
Our men face the elevator, keeping their expressions intently blank.
They know keeping my most prized treasure safe tonight is something they better not fuck up or their lives will be on the line.
The elevator doors open into the backs of more of our soldiers, keeping vigilance.
Nicolo leads the way out of the elevator, following our men as we walk through the reception area with our four enforcers at the rear fanned out to surround us as we head out the glass doors and into the guarded open doors of the armor-plated limo.
Nicolo gets in the back with us, making room for Saint up front by Terry who’s busy checking his mirrors to make sure the soldiers behind us are right on our ass, and giving the others time to pull out beside us as we make our way out of the drive and into the street.
He stays on the main roads and weaves us down to the harbor. It’s been a minute since I took time to enjoy the yacht. Custom made right down the finest detail, it glides through the water like no other yacht around.
The light from the overhead streetlamps illuminates the side of the yacht. DELUCA. It’s the first time I ever wished our name wasn’t plastered on the side of her, letting anyone on the water know that we’re out tonight.
Anna’s delicate hand reaches for mine. “Vincenzo. We’re going on your yacht?”
The pure excitement in her voice makes everything that had to be arranged to make this possible in such a short time worth it. I wrap an arm around Anna. “We are going to make all your wishes come true, princessa.”
She doesn’t need to be told that we’ll be heavily guarded.
As a Cassone daughter she’s used to protection wherever she goes.
It comes with the territory of being a mafia family daughter, but still, it’s nothing compared to the security she needs as wife of the Atlantic City boss, who’s at war with a connected man who wants her dead.