Chapter Twenty-Seven
Merrick
Giana leaned back in her chair as she pushed the papers forward.
She’d sketched out the layout of the three floors of the Barone mansion with enough accuracy; it made my teeth grind—not because I was upset with her for being there, but because she’d clearly felt the need to note every room and exit when she was there.
Even when she was enduring her time with Tommaso, the possibility of escape never left her mind.
I selfishly didn’t like to think about all the years she had to spend with him, but once this fight was over, I had no doubt everything would come bubbling back up to the surface. And we’d all be here for her every step of the way.
“I have some men loyal to me who are on guard tonight. I trust them with my life, and they don’t like the way my father runs his business.
” Lorenzo’s voice echoed through the speaker, his sound alone enough to get my hackles up.
He sounded and looked too much like Tommaso for me to ever forget they were brothers.
I glanced at Sebastian, who was holding himself just as rigidly as I was.
He must’ve felt my gaze on him since he gave me a tight nod.
Trusting a Barone wasn’t something any of us wanted to do, but Sebastian had the tallest hurdle to leap over when it came to the crime family.
My biceps twitched with how tense I was, and I gave him a nod of acknowledgment before focusing back on the conversation.
“They’ll be stationed out front, and they’ll take care of the guards loyal to Angelo while you go around the back. You’ll wait for me to give the signal, and then you’ll come in through the back and my guards will come in through the front.”
“And what will stop them from trying to escape?” I cut in, refusing to allow us to walk in without every situation covered.
“We’ll bar the doors. Nobody in or out until we’ve killed every last one of them or die trying.”
I didn’t like the sound of that, but he had a point. This had to end tonight, one way or another.
“We’re trusting you tonight, Lorenzo.” Ice laced Giana’s tone, sending a shiver down my spine.
I couldn’t help but smile with her as a cruel grin tilted her mouth up.
“If I find a knife at my back, I won’t give you a clean death.
I will tear every inch of skin from your body, until you’re begging me to end it, but I won’t stop, not until that final breath rattles from your lungs. ”
Francine pursed her lips, but she didn’t argue.
Hell, the tough older woman didn’t even seem fazed by Giana’s threat.
Sophia didn’t look disturbed either. Obviously they’d both come to terms with the wickedly violent side of our little devil.
Spade practically bounced in his seat like he didn’t care if Lorenzo went against us; he’d rather take him apart piece by piece with Giana.
“Understood.” His tone wasn’t as cold as I’d suspected, merely agreeable, like he wouldn’t expect anything less of her.
I couldn’t blame Spade. I’d rather send Lorenzo to an early grave right alongside his father, but Francine and Giana would be pissed at me if I went back on our word. Giana’s amber eyes met mine, a flicker of amusement there as she shook her head.
“No fun.” I mouthed at her, and she stuck out her tongue in response. If the kitchen wasn’t packed with our friends right now, I’d suck that tongue right into my mouth and devour her whole.
“Wait for my signal, and everything will go off without a hitch.” His chipper tone made me want to reach through the phone and pound his skull in.
I’m sure he wouldn’t be so nonchalant if it were the woman he loved walking into the lion’s den.
Kellan and I both scowled, our minds going to the same place.
Although I wasn’t sure a Barone had enough of a heart left to truly love anyone.
“We’ll wait for your call.” Giana was about as impressed as we were. We were taking a leap of faith here trusting him, and our world could come crashing down around us if we took a wrong step.
Silence permeated the room as Giana hung up and passed the phone back to Francine. We had our plan. And I didn’t like it one bit. It put Giana right in Angelo’s clutches, but it was the only way tonight didn’t end with a bloodbath.
“You’re going back to the motel with Francine, Sophia.” Zane’s declaration cut through the tension like a knife. “We’ll have to bring most of our men with us, so one less place to guard is best.”
“But I—”
“He’s right,” Giana said before her friend could argue. “If your training was further ahead, I wouldn’t have a problem bringing you with us, but none of us want you to be in danger.”
Sophia nodded and clasped Francine’s shoulder. “I guess it’s just you and me tonight.”
Francine grasped Sophia’s hand, her smile laced with sorrow. “They’ll be coming back before you know it.”
Sophia’s cheeks reddened, but she didn’t argue.
“We’ll take you back to the motel.” Sebastian pushed back from the table and stood, straightening his suit jacket, and concealing any sign of the unease that I’d caught only moments before.
Sophia bolted around the table and slammed into Giana, wrapping her in a fierce hug. “You better come back to us unscathed this time. I’ve had enough waiting by your bedside for a lifetime. I honestly think if it happens again I might just have a heart attack.”
“Well, we couldn’t have that.” Giana chuckled, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes.
Francine embraced her the moment Sophia released her, muttering something in her ear that was only meant for the two of them. Giana nodded as she took a step back, her arms wrapping around her chest as though she was trying to soothe an ache in her heart.
I stepped in beside her before Kellan or Spade could, nestling her against my hard chest. She eagerly wrapped herself around my side and I nearly groaned at her curves pressed up to me.
Kellan huffed in amusement, while Spade glowered.
“We should call a meeting,” Kellan said as the others filed through the door. “We need to fill the Demons in on the plan and make sure we’re ready for tonight.”
“You should.” I nodded my agreement, earning myself a glare from Kellan this time.
“I can—”
“No,” I interrupted before Giana could volunteer herself. “You need some rest before tonight. You’re still healing.”
She shot me a baleful look. “So are you.”
“Exactly, that’s why we should stay here while they meet with the others.”
I expected Spade to argue, but to my surprise he clasped Giana’s face between his palms, capturing her attention. “There’s no reason that all of us should go. You and Merrick rest, we have this covered.”
He slammed his lips to hers in a brief, intense kiss before letting her go. As Kellan stepped into his place and gave our girl his own parting kiss, Spade met my gaze, his eyes tightening in warning.
I merely shrugged one shoulder, not letting them see my plans. Our little devil was exhausted, not just physically, but mentally too. She needed a moment to shake off that responsibility and let someone else take control, and that was exactly what I would give her.
Giana’s lips thinned as Kellan and Spade strode for the door, giving her one last look over their shoulders before they closed the door behind them.
Giana’s shoulders slumped as though the weight of the world was on her shoulders.
But I would take care of that. There was no way I was going to let her walk into that house with anything, but a clear and focused mind.
“Giana,” I growled.
“Merrick.” She rolled her eyes like she already knew what I was going to say.
“I don’t like this plan. I hate the fact that you’re putting yourself in danger yet again.”
Her lips quirked to the side. “It’s the only way.”
My jaw ticked. I knew it was, but I hated it. If I could trade places with her, I would in a heartbeat.
“I’ll be fine,” she said, but she didn’t meet my eyes.
I crooked a finger under her chin, forcing her gaze to mine. “Tell me that again.”
She huffed. “I’ll be fine, Merrick. I know what I’m doing, plus it’s not like I’m going in there alone.”
She might as well be. “Let me go with you.”
“He’ll kill you.” She batted my hand away and glared back at me.
Fury blazed through my veins, and I almost blurted that I didn’t care, but that was no way to convince her.
My stomach twisted as I wracked my brain for any other option, but we both knew there was none.
I ground my teeth, my mind, and heart warring for supremacy.
I wished I could just lock her up and take care of this with the Demons, but then I would be just as bad as Tommaso, locking her in a glass cage, stripping her of her freedom and her will to live.
I would never be like him.
“Let’s go to my room.” I kissed the top of her head, knowing only one thing could ease the churning storm raging through my head and body, and that was her, splayed out before me like my own personal buffet. Before she could take a step, I swept her up in my arms.
“Merrick,” she gasped, and I couldn’t control my grin as I imagined her moaning my name very soon.
I raced up the stairs, taking them two at a time in my haste to have her all to myself. “Merrick?” Her tone was a warning this time. Oh, she had no idea what I had in store for her. “We are sleeping, aren’t we?”
“Eventually.” I shifted her so I could swing open the door, and I placed her onto the bed like the precious jewel she was.
She settled against the pillows as I locked the door. “I don’t think—”