Chapter 14
Davide
By the time we left the condo, it was close to seven-thirty.
Before we left, I made sure India knew where everything she would need was located.
Once she was squared away, Piero, Nicco, Angelo, Victor, Giuseppe, and I took the private elevator located in the back of the condo down to the parking garage where the two black Range Rovers I owned were parked.
I decided it would be best if we all rode in the same vehicle.
I didn’t want to draw too much attention to us.
Piero jumped into the driver seat as the others climbed in the back. I got in the front passenger seat while Angelo put the address to the warehouse into the Rover’s GPS. We had about a forty-minute drive ahead of us.
The city was still asleep when we pulled out the garage. Hopefully, we could use that to our advantage. Maybe Okoye’s men were lazy and slept on the job.
“Angelo, do you see a spot on the map where we can stow the Rover without it being seen? I want to get as close as possible undetected.” I state, looking at him over my shoulder.
Angelo had his laptop open on his lap. “Yeah, boss. The warehouse is surrounded by other buildings we can use.” He taps on the keyboard.
“I see a perfect spot where we can hide the SUV, and it's close enough for us to get a good look at the warehouse. We can probably get closer by foot from there too.”
“Good. Everybody, make sure you’re locked and loaded, and your silencers are on,” I command. “Hopefully, we won’t have to use them on this run, but you never know.”
Twenty minutes into the ride, I called the landline at the condo to check on India.
She was watching television to distract her from worrying about me.
I told her there was nothing for her to worry about.
I was returning to her as soon as we were finished.
Since I didn’t have time to have the kitchen stocked with food, I told her to check the top drawer in the kitchen for menus.
Some of the restaurants did breakfast delivery.
She said she didn’t have an appetite and would wait until I returned.
I gave her the code for the elevator just in case she changed her mind.
Before we hung up, she told me to be careful and hurry back.
“We’re here, boss,” Piero announces, pulling into what was once a gas station. The windows was boarded up, and the door to the garage bay was down with a lock and chain securing it.
Nicco and Giuseppe got out and went to the back of the Rover.
They opened the back door and got out what they needed.
Next, they went to the garage door, and Nicco cut the lock off with a pair of bolt cutters.
Giuseppe removed the chain, and together they lifted the old door, and Piero pulled into the bay.
They stepped inside once we were in far enough, then let the door down.
“How close are we, Angelo?” I ask, doing one last check of my weapons.
“The warehouse is on the other side of the building to the right of us. There’s barely any traffic in this area, so we should be able to get close enough to see what’s going on.”
We got out and met Nicco and Giuseppe at the back of the SUV. Nicco handed each of us an earpiece to put in our ears. After placing them in, we did a soundcheck to make sure they worked.
I turn to them. “You know the plan, get as close as possible, and see what the fuck they’re up too.
I want to make this quick, so we’re on a thirty-minute time frame.
Set your watches.” We all set the timer on our watches.
“The clock starts when we leave this building. As discussed, we go in as pairs. Nicco and Angelo, Victor and Giuseppe, then me and Piero. Collect as much intel as you can. Take pictures of every person you see. Everybody straight with that?”
“Yes, boss,” They reply in unison.
I nod. “Good, let’s go.”
We went to the side exit door in the bay.
Once outside, we start our timers and break off into our pairs, heading out in different directions.
Piero and I snuck around the back of the building Angelo told us about.
We were able to get close enough to the warehouse to see the front of it.
Piero taps my arm, pointing to two old dumpsters that were behind another building that was closer.
I gave him a thumbs-up before we crouched down, then quietly made our way to the dumpsters.
This position gave us a better view. Outside the warehouse were three guards sitting at table playing cards.
They each had a rifle by their sides leaning up against the table.
They were relaxed, which was a big no-no in this business.
If those were my men sitting around like that while my shit was in the warehouse, I’d put a bullet in their heads for not doing their jobs, but oh well, I see it won’t be hard taking them out. I take a picture of them with my phone.
As we continued to watch, nothing major happened.
One guard got up and went into the warehouse, then a different one came out and sat with the other two.
I catch his image with my phone too. My watch vibrated on my wrist, letting me know we had ten minutes to get back to the gas station.
I nudge Piero. When he looks at me, I tap my watch, indicating to him know it was time to go.
We made it back at the same time as the others. Nicco and Giuseppe checked to make sure no one was coming before letting the garage door up. With no one in sight, they let the door up, and Piero backed out. They let it down and hopped in the SUV when Piero was out.
“What did you see? Were you able to get any pictures?” I ask.
Nicco answers first. “We only saw two guards when we went on the right side and to the back. They had minimum guns on them. I would say one apiece. One was smoking a cigarette, standing next to a door. There was also a large door on the back of the building. Angelo got shots of all that.”
“Yeah, we spotted three from the left. Not much activity. No doors on that side. I’m sending Angelo the pics now.” Giuseppe adds.
“Okay, so there were three at the front, then later one left, and a different one came out. That’s a total of nine we saw today.
We don’t know how many may be on the inside, but the way these men are so nonchalant about their jobs, I don’t see it being a problem taking them out.
” I state, rubbing my beard. “Let’s head back to the condo.
Angelo, I want you to keep running surveillance on the warehouse.
Make note of how many different guards you see.
Maybe by the time we get back, they might have done a shift change.
We’ll send you the rest of the pictures, so you’ll know which ones we’ve seen so far.
It’ll be dark when we return later tonight, so anyone standing outside that warehouse will get taken down. ”
Before we made it back to the condo, I had Piero stop at one of the breakfast restaurants so we could get some food to go. Not sure what India would eat, I got her one of everything and two large orange juices.
She was sitting on the couch when we returned. She jumped from her seat and ran straight to me, wrapping her arms around my neck. I would have hugged her back if I weren’t carrying a dozen bags in my hands with our food in them.
“Thank God, you’re back. I was starting to get worried.” She says in my chest.
I chuckle. “I told you not to worry.”
“I know, but I couldn’t help it.”
“We’re going to our rooms, boss. Your drinks will be on the counter in the kitchen.” Piero says as he and the others head down the opposite halls that lead to their rooms. I raise my bag laden hand.
“I bought us some food,” I tell India, as I raise the other hand.
“Here, let me help you.” She tries to take the bags from my left hand.
“I got it. Let’s go in the dining room.”
The table looked like a fucking buffet once we took everything out of the bags.
India ran into the kitchen and got our drinks before we sat down to eat.
Now we were curled up on the couch stuffed like two thanksgiving turkeys.
Yeah, I know about Thanksgiving turkeys.
I spent every Thanksgiving holiday with Momma Calista and Brat.
“I thought you said you didn’t have an appetite?” I tease, caressing the wings on the back of her neck.
“I didn’t at the time, but when you started opening the containers, the aroma gave me back my appetite. Plus, I wasn’t going to let you sit there and eat all that food by yourself.”
“Well, I think we should go down to the beach and walk some of this food off,” I suggest.
“Are you sure? What if someone sees us?” She questions, staring up at me.
“No one will see us. The beach here at the condo is private. It’s sectioned off from the public.”
“Oh, well, then I’m game. I need some fresh air anyway.”
I changed clothes and put on a pair of shorts and a tank top.
India changed into a pair of shorts too with a razorback tank.
I knocked on Piero's door to let him know we were going down to the beach for a bit.
He offered to come, but I told him we would be okay.
We took the elevator down to the main floor then out the back exit that led to the beach.
The sun was high, but the breeze coming off the water felt good.
India and I walked hand and hand on the beach, just taking in the peacefulness of it.
“Davide, aren’t you afraid my father might find out where your condo is?”
“Our condo,” I correct her. “And no, I’m not worried about that.
The condo is listed under a fake name. My papà knows the owner, so when I bought it, I had it listed under Michael Sampson.
I’m not making it easy for people to find me.
The only reason he found out about the houses in New Orleans is because they are in my Papà’s name, and everybody in the business knows who my Papà is.
Okoye made a big mistake sending people there. ”
“Yeah, I agree with you on that.”
“Now, my house in Cefalù is in my name, but no one is stupid enough to step on my home turf and try some shit with me. My other two best friends, Luca and Matteo, are Dons of their families and live there too. Stepping to one of us on our homelands is like stepping to all of us. We’re not as close as we used to be, but we band together when we need to.
You’ll meet them soon. There’s another Don by the name of Romano, but he lives here in the states.
He only comes to Cefalù when all four of us have business to attend to. ”
“Wow, so it’s four of you guys controlling everything.”
“Pretty much, but we tend to do our business separately. We have a mutual respect for one another and try not to step on the other’s toes.”
“That’s pretty impressive.”
“I guess. I’m all about my family and my money, anything else outside of that doesn’t mean shit to me.” I state with certainty.
“As it should be.” India agrees. She starts to tug my hand. “Come on, let’s go test the water.”
“I don’t want to get in the water.”
“Come on, Davide. We’re just going to put our feet in.” She gleefully says, still pulling on my arm.
“I don’t want to get my hair wet.” I playfully run my finger through my mane.
India stops dead in her tracks, squinting her eyes at me before she doubles over laughing. “Okay, I’m done! The big bad Don doesn’t want to get his hair wet. Now, I’ve heard it all!” She continues to laugh.
“You think it’s funny, huh?” I ask, stepping closer to her.
“Hell yeah, I do!”
“Well, let’s see if you think this is funny.” Before she could react, I pick her up and run towards the beach. India laughs harder as she begs for me to put her down.
“Stop, Davide! I was only joking!” She squeals, trying to get out my arms.
“Stop, Davide! I was only joking!” I echo back, mocking her. I step into the water, going further in until it’s just below my waist.
I pretend like I’m going to drop her in the water. India grabs on to me like a cat about to get tossed into a tub.
“Quit playing, Davide! You better not drop me in this water and ruin my hair!” She shrieks.
“Oh, but it was funny when I said I didn’t want to get my hair wet. Now who’s crying about getting their hair wet?” I kid.
“I said I was playing! I mean really, whoever heard of a Don not wanting to get his hair wet?! Wouldn’t you think that was funny too?” She questions, still holding on to me.
Now it was my turn to laugh. “Never laugh at a Don, angel. We take that shit seriously.” I say, before taking us both under the water. India screams when I bring us back up.
“I can’t believe you just did that. Look at my hair, Davide!”
I set her on her feet as she pushes her hair out of her face. “I think your hair looks beautiful.”
“Oh, yeah,” She hisses before dunking me back under the water. She tries to scurry away, but I catch her, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her back against my chest.
“That wasn’t nice, angel,” I whisper in her ear, before falling back into the water with her in my arms.
We continued to frolic in the water until we exhausted ourselves. When we made it back to the condo, it was two o’clock. We took a shower and got into bed to take a nap before we had to get up and start getting ready to head to the warehouse.