Chapter 21
Vincenzo
I watch the minute hand on my watch, waiting impatiently until it’s time before hitting the button that will connect me to my father and hopefully to the information that I need. “Vincenzo here,” I say after the routine clicks letting me know we’re on a secure line.
“Your instincts were correct, as usual. The Gallinis see the Sarones as a way to take over the territory they control, and a way into ours. They’re sending in more family, cousins and all to help Bastian.
And word on the street is Bastian will do anything to get the Cassone girl.
Revenge is in his heart, Son. He told his father that she’s his by right and he plans to marry her and make every living day hell. ”
“I heard the rumor too, but thought it was just that, that what he really wanted was revenge.”
“No, I’m not sure why but it goes deeper than that. He wants the white dress, the whole extravaganza to show all the world that she is his. Evil bastard.”
My chest tightens with fury. “Anna doesn’t belong to him. There is no contract that I’m aware of. She recalls her father’s torture right up to the time his life was ended, and he never agreed to that, Papa. I’m not giving her to a fuck who wants to marry her and then torture her to death.”
“I’ve still got my sources with ears to the ground, learning what they can, but for now, secure your mother and sister, bring them to the tower, keep them protected at all costs. At least until we know their full play.”
“Already done. They’re settling in nicely.”
“Good, Son, good. I’ll get a hold of you if I hear more. Find out as much as you can from the men at the docks.”
“I’m on it. The family is protected; you can be assured of that.”
“I left you in charge so I wouldn’t have to worry, and I don’t. Not ever. I know whatever gets thrown our way, you’ll do the right thing. But this girl, tell me she’s worth a war?”
My chest squeezes so tight I can barely breathe. He’s not questioning me, but in his own way, he needs me to know that’s where this is going and to be prepared. “She’s worth a lifetime of war. I’ll keep the family safe though.”
“Make sure you do. That’s all that I ask.”
It’s long minutes staring out the window, digesting the conversation, contemplating our next move before I’m ready to connect with Nicolo. The minute I open my office door I hear music and voices coming from the living room.
I walk toward the sound and pause, watching Anna as she bends in half on the floor, her graceful body stretched into a pose, holding steady while her muscles strain with the exertion.
She is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
So graceful in everything that she does, even in exercise her face glows, as her hair hangs in a long ponytail.
She moves into the next pose, guided by the instructor on the television screen and senses me watching her.
Her face tilts as she looks over at me while pushing her extremely firm little ass into the air. She gives me a sassy wink, and I swear the next time she gets into a pose like this I’m going to be balls deep inside of her.
I give her a smirk. “Remember that pose for later. I have a meeting. I’ll be back shortly.”
She blushes, her eyes gleaming with mischief before turning her attention back to the instructor as I pass and reach the door. I chance a glance back into the room, at her, at this lifestyle, with her in my home soaking it all in because this is what I’m fucking fighting for now.
I walk out the door and toward Nicolo’s penthouse. Four brothers in total, all in one tower, with one shared elevator. Thankfully Agosto and Gianni agreed to share one penthouse for the duration of the time Lanah and Mamma need to stay here.
The ladies need their privacy, and I don’t want them subjected to any of the conversations they would surely hear if living under any of my younger brothers’ roofs. Some things are better left to the men whether my sister and mother believe it to be true or not.
Nicolo looks up from his office desk as I walk in, and gestures to the seat across from him while listening to the person on the cell phone talk. He spins the phone around with one finger, quietly listening but I know Nicolo and that’s not the gesture of a man happy with anything he’s hearing.
His voice sounds normal, but all of a sudden, my younger brother looks dark, deadly. “Get it done and get back to me.”
He hits the red end button. His jaw is locked tight and clearly something has gone south. I place both hands on the desk. “What’s wrong, Nicolo?”
His eyes meet mine. “The fuckers I trusted to get the information? Told me again today, ‘we’re almost there with the information. These guys are almost ready to crack.’ I’ve got a bad fucking feeling that I trusted two men who may not be doing what I asked them to do.
It’s been too long, Vincenzo. I’m going out there,” he says, pulling his gun out of his desk drawer.
“Not fucking alone, you aren’t.” I hit my cell, and Gianni answers after one ring. “Grab Agosto and meet us at the warehouse. No one else knows. Come loaded.”
“Tell me nothing happened to Nicolo.”
“He’s right here with me, we’re leaving now.”
Nicolo and I don’t waste time. He’s putting a message into Terry before we’ve even reached the elevator. Two men we’ve had in our family for almost twenty years, like brothers to us all are both on guard for the family since we moved them here. “Keep them safe. We won’t be long.”
By the time we’re out on the street Terry’s rolling up in the black SUV. I slide into the back and let Nicolo take the front seat. “Put your foot on the gas. We’ve got fucking rats at the warehouse,” he says.
My brother and the underboss of this organization is quiet as we take the drive.
I don’t interrupt his thoughts because every fucking one of us has been there before.
Believing we’ve got the best crew, the tightest security, and the most loyal of soldiers until one of the bastards turns or you find out you’ve been played or infiltrated.
Rats, they come with the business, we’ve got them in other organizations, and they have them in ours.
But I know my brother is taking it hard because I was counting on him to get this information.
I tap Terry on the shoulder a short distance from the warehouse drive. “Hold up, let’s wait for the others.” He nods, then leans over to get his own gun out of the glove compartment.
I shake my head. “You know the drill. If things go south, you get my brothers out of here, understand? Anyone asks why you tell them I gave that fucking order.”
His jaw locks tight but he’s never argued with me before and he doesn’t do it now. “Gotcha, boss. I’ll be ready.”
The minute Gianni and Agosto pull up behind us, I get Gianni on the phone. “Stay put, give us a five-minute lead. We’ll go in as normal, you two come in as backup. You hear me shoot three times in rapid succession and you get the fuck out of here and don’t look back.”
I wave Terry forward and he pulls up the driveway, over the trip wire that alerts anyone inside that we’re here and right into the lens of the cameras set at strategic angles around the front. “Time to play find the rat.”
Nicolo and I open the doors and close them with a soft slam just like normal. No rush, no hurry, nothing to be alarmed about for those inside, just a pop in to see how everyone’s doing.
At least that’s the play.