Chapter Twenty-Six
Giana
The front door crashed open the moment we pulled into the driveway, Sophia and Francine spilling out onto the front porch.
Merrick swung open the van door, and by the time he was helping me out of the back, the two women were surrounding me, their arms wrapping me in a tight embrace.
I allowed myself a moment to sink into their comforting warmth before I pulled away, steeling myself for what had to come.
“Let’s get inside.” Merrick slung his arm over my shoulders, warily glancing around the property like Angelo’s men might be hiding behind any corner.
Sebastian and Zane led the rest of us back into the house as we all crowded onto the few sofas in the living room.
Spade pulled me onto his lap, earning himself narrowed looks from Merrick and Kellan as they sat on either side of us.
Francine took the plush armchair while Sebastian and Zane took the two ends of the other couch, leaving the middle open.
Sophia eyed the free seat and rolled her eyes before she leaned up against the wall, clearly not willing to put herself between the two men.
Tension radiated through the room as the silence became a palpable force. I broke it, filling the others in on what happened at the motel and the casualties that the paramedics and firefighters pretended to cart away.
“So when are we calling Lorenzo?” Francine crossed her arms over her chest and gave us a haughty smile.
“We can call him now.” Francine pulled the burner phone from her purse and handed it to me.
I chewed on my bottom lip and flicked open the basic silver cell phone.
It wasn’t hard to find Lorenzo’s number, as it was the only number saved.
My stomach twisted at the thought of asking for his help, but there was so much more at stake than our egos.
Hundreds of people could’ve died tonight if Angelo had attacked the right hotel.
And we only had a small window of time before Angelo figured out our ruse.
Spade rubbed my shoulders, while Kellan gripped my thigh and Merrick took my free hand. I wasn’t alone anymore. I had my men by my side and my friends at my back. This wasn’t me choosing to trust a Barone; this was all of us banding together to protect this town and keep the ones we loved safe.
I pressed his contact and put the phone on speaker. Every tinny ring made my nerves ratchet even higher, my heart racing as though I was in a fight for my life. The call rang out, not even taking us to voicemail, leaving the adrenaline settling in my stomach like a leaden weight.
“Well then…” Spade trailed off, his huff of amusement brushing against the back of my neck, raising goosebumps in its wake.
Zane grumbled something unintelligible under his breath, and Sebastian crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at the phone like it had personally offended him. “I knew he wouldn’t be here when we actually needed him.”
A crease formed between my brows, but before I could get a word out the shrill chirp of the phone sent a jolt of panic straight to my heart. I clasped a hand to my chest, trying to slow the rapid thumping as I glanced down at the screen. It was the same number that Lorenzo had programmed in.
“I’m assuming you know about the fire?” He was short of breath like he was running.
“Yes. You could’ve given us a warning, though.” I pursed my lips unamused after seeing the destruction that could’ve taken so many lives today.
“It had to look like a genuine reaction.” He heaved in a breath, his footsteps pounding in the background.
“Are you running for your life or something?”
“Nothing quite that dramatic.” He chuckled. “But I’m assuming since you finally called me, you’ve decided I can be trusted. So I’m trying to lose the tail my father has on me.”
A car door slamming echoed through the phone as an engine roared to life. “I can’t risk meeting you, not when I can’t be sure if I’ve lost him, but we can talk over the phone. Does this mean you’re making your move tonight?”
I glanced around the room, meeting each of their sure gazes. “Yes. This ends tonight.”
“Good.” Amusement laced the word as tires squealed on asphalt. “I’m ready to get rid of the bastard and get the hell out of this town.”
“If we work together tonight, I need to know that you’ll do as you said. You’ll remove any trace of the Barone empire from East Haven, and you’ll sort through your men. If I go to New York, which I promise I will, I’m not going to find any of your men cornering young women in back alleys, am I?”
“Of course not,” he hissed, the steering wheel creaking with the effort he must’ve been squeezing it with. “I will put a bullet between any man’s eyes who would ever force a woman, corner, or intimidate anyone who didn’t deserve it.”
“Good. Then we have a plan to work through.” Icy determination filled my veins as I rose from my seat despite Spade’s arms trying to wrap around me and pull me back down onto his lap. “You go through the logistics while I get some paper to draw a layout of the mansion.”
“I’m glad I’m on your side,” Lorenzo scoffed. “This won’t be easy, but if there was a time to strike, tonight would be the night.”
“Why is that?”
“Angelo’s celebrating his ‘win’ tonight,” Lorenzo said, disgust lacing his tone. “He’s gathered everyone higher up in the organization, and all of his government contacts to celebrate. He’s assuming you’ll hand yourself over to stop him from hurting anyone else.”
I gritted my teeth, hating that it was something I would probably do. I’d already sacrificed myself to a monster; what would it mean to do so again if I could keep the entire town safe, as well as the men I loved?