Chapter 8
SIMEON
We set off for the city where Goldsworthy Financial Enterprises boasts a head office, and we are only sixty minutes into our journey when Jack takes a call.
His low ‘fuck’ as he cuts it, causes me to snap, “What?”
“Liam Dettori.”
“What about him?”
I’m aware that he attempted to kidnap one of the sisters from the convent by hijacking the cab taking her to the airport, but I thought Julius had headed that one off at the pass when he blew his driver’s brains out and kidnapped her right back.
I’m not aware of the full details, but news travels fast in our organization, and despite there being a blackout on operations while we’re in the field, somehow word got back to us on that.
“He never left. When his first attempt failed, he merely shifted his jet to another location.”
“Which is?”
“Precisely three hours’ drive from here. A private airfield in Lucerne.”
“So, you believe he placed the gardener undercover, and he is delivering Alice to him. Now.”
“It makes sense.”
He holds up his phone and I stare at the image of a young man, good-looking, with huge muscles and a soft smile.
“Who is he?”
“Your gardener.”
I take another look and hiss, “Otherwise known as–”
“Ludo Dettori.”
“Liam’s son?”
Jack shakes his head. “Liam is his uncle. It appears that he wants in on the family business and has flown under the radar until now.”
“Where did you get this? Who’s the source?”
We’ve had men inside the Dettori mafia for years, so I’m certain it’s come from one of them.
“Sydney Dettori.”
I say nothing and merely throw him a dark glare because what the actual fuck is happening right now.
“Is this a trap?”
Jack shrugs. “It could be, but word is Sydney is pissed. She hasn’t survived this long in the Dettori family without fighting a few wars, and it appears that now she’s fighting another one.”
My mind races. “Are you saying that Liam is about to take the prize for himself, and she is now surplus to his requirements?”
I’m not surprised because Liam is an evil motherfucker who uses women for personal gain. Hell, we all do, but none as cruelly as Liam Dettori.
“It appears that way. I’m guessing she wants you to take her husband out before he does the same to her.”
“I’ll ask you again. Is this a trap?”
I wouldn’t put it past Sydney to lay one for her own agenda, and Jack shrugs.
“There’s only one way to find out.”
“How far?”
“A couple of hours.”
“You had better be right.”
Lucerne is a detour and takes us away from Zurich, where we’re heading, and if this is a trap, it gives our enemies the edge over us. My mind is racing as I contemplate every possibility, and as I lean back in my seat, I ponder the problem.
As soon as Jack finishes advising the driver, I issue a further order. “Divert Harry and Tommy to Zurich with backup. Stake out the Goldsworthy building, and I want to know every woman who passes through those doors.”
“Understood.”
Jack places another call, leaving me to contemplate our problem.
I don’t like it.
There is too much speculation. I’m floating around as if I’m bleeding in shark infested water.
My gun lies heavy against my shoulder and I’m itching to use it on the gardener. Ludo fucking Dettori. How did I miss him? I thought I knew every motherfucker in that organization but a nephew—I didn’t see that one coming.
It makes sense now. Liam has probably been planning this since Enrico’s will and testament became common knowledge. Even I must admit he was ahead of the field. Six months ahead and placing his man on the inside was a stroke of genius.
He must have been pissed when the first sister escaped his carefully laid plan, and now he’s trusting his nephew to deliver the prize. Yes, Sydney Dettori has every reason to be afraid because if Liam is taking Alice for his wife, Sydney’s grave has already been dug.
“I’ve told the driver to break the sound barrier. They’ve had a head start on us and we may be too late.”
Jack states the obvious and I snarl, “Do we have any contacts at the airfield who can stall for time?”
He shakes his head. “No.”
“Anyone in authority there?”
“Sadly no. Our reach doesn’t extend to Switzerland. However, we do have the pilot and three of his crew on our payroll. Getting a message to them will be risky, but not impossible.”
“Do it.”
We need all the luck on our side because if Liam’s jet takes off from Lucerne, Alice is screwed—probably as soon as the seat belt sign extinguishes.
Sydney will be dead before the plane hits thirty thousand feet, and Alice Zaferelli will be the new Mrs. Dettori, and her billions will be the wedding gift.
My jaw grinds as I stare out of the window, the scenery flashing past in a blur. Fuck, this is not working out as planned and for a man who likes to win, losing isn’t even an option.