Chapter 32
STELLAN
My phone rings the second the plane lands. I limp down the steps and onto the tarmac. My leg feels like shit, but Kira did a good job cleaning me up. I’ll make sure the flight crew gets an extra big bonus for this one. I’m pretty sure I left a sizable bloodstain on the carpet.
“Prime, what’s going on?”
“Morning, boss.” Prime sounds like his usual calm and cocky self. It drives me nuts. “I’m at the bank, as instructed. The place just opened, but he’s already inside. I think he got them to come in early or some shit.”
Anger and surprise flicker through me. He beat us home by a mile. He must’ve rushed straight to the bank from the airport.
“Keep watching. Don’t let Vural out of your sight no matter what.”
“I can’t do much from a distance even if he does show up. Give me permission to ambush the fucker.”
“Too risky. Cops will get involved, and I don’t want any dead civilians. You can’t go in that bank.”
“Don’t we own the cops?”
I can’t explain to him that no, we don’t, we don’t own anyone right now, not without that book. And I’m pretty sure Vural is about to get his hands on it. “Just follow orders.”
“Whatever you say.”
“Once Vural leaves the bank, tail him. Don’t lose him. Your fucking life depends on it.”
“Understood.”
Prime hangs up.
Sorrow hits me hard. I stumble and nearly lose my step, but Kira’s there to steady me. She puts herself under my arm and makes me place some of my weight on her shoulders. She touches my chest, looking worried. I try to find words, but nothing comes.
I lost the book.
Everything my family ever worked for is in enemy hands now.
Isak Vural ambushed me and now he’s going to destroy my entire life and all the lives of the people I care about.
Kira touches my arm. “You need to slow down.”
“No time.” I clench my jaw. I can’t fall apart. Not right now. “I have to hurry. Prime’s watching Vural.”
“You’re hurt. Let your men handle him.”
“Can’t do that.”
“Stellan—”
I shake my head and move forward. Kira keeps pace, still taking some of my weight, and I wonder if that’s how it’ll be from now on. When life throws shit my way, maybe she’ll take a little of the stress on her shoulders. Maybe we’ll help each other be stronger.
“This is my family, Kira. I’m their Don and they’re my responsibility. I can’t pass that on to someone else. Whatever happens to them is my fault and mine alone.”
“You can’t help if you bleed out.”
I stop at the door to the terminal. I pull her against me and hug her tightly. I’m so grateful she’s here and she’s strong enough to be the support I desperately need. “You have to go back home. I have guards coming to watch over you soon.”
“Stellan—”
“Please, I have to know you’re safe so I can go take care of Vural.”
“I don’t want you to go.”
“I know.” I kiss her softly. Our lips linger and it hurts how badly I’m desperate for her. But this is my fight and mine alone. “I love you. I’ll come home, I promise.”
“I love you too.” Tears roll down her cheeks. “Don’t get killed.”
I kiss her one more time, not sure if I can make that promise, before I hurry toward where my ride’s waiting. On the way, I make a series of calls and send a dozen texts, shooting out instructions to my network.
It ends today. Either I walk from this confrontation with the book or Vural does. At either extreme, it’s finished. The Corsetti Famiglia survives or we crumble.
Vural’s already gone from the bank by the time I get there.
Prime’s gone too. He answers his phone, and I follow to his location.
I end up at a fancy boutique hotel out on the edge of town near the Delaware River.
It’s not a large structure, thankfully. Only three floors.
I’d guess fifty rooms, tops, but still. Not ideal.
Prime’s leaning up against his car, watching the entrance.
“I’ve got men around back. He’s definitely in there.”
“Does he know you followed?”
Prime only shrugs. “He might. I couldn’t risk being too careful. I had to make sure I kept on him.”
“You did good.” I stare at the entrance to the building. It’s a damn problem. I had hoped Vural would stay in a more private location, but this makes my life harder. There will be staff inside and other customers. People who have nothing to do with my fight.
But none of them matter now.
“What’s the plan? And what’s Vural got that’s so important?”
I take a deep breath and slowly let it out. I can’t hide this anymore, not right now when I need everyone on high alert. “He’s got the Black Book.” Saying it out loud isn’t as bad as I thought. It’s actually a slight relief.
Prime stiffens. Even his cocky nonchalance crumbles. “You can’t be serious?”
“It’s a long story, but this is life or death for our entire organization right now. Vural’s got the Black Book, and if we don’t take it back, we’re finished.”
“Well, fuck me in the ear canal.” Prime lets out a surprised laugh. “This is even more fucked up than I realized.”
“Stay with me. Tell your men they need to find that book.”
“You really want everyone to know it’s missing?”
“At this point, I need everyone aware of what’s going on. It’s existential now.”
“Yeah, alright. You’re the Don.” Prime shoots off a few quick text messages. “You think we should storm it?”
I consider the options. We could wait for nightfall and go in as fast and quiet as we can, but I have a feeling Vural’s waiting for that. By the time we’re through the doors, he’ll have copied the book, scanned it, or taken photos of it, and killing him won’t matter anymore. We’ll be fucked.
Which means there’s only a single option.
“We storm the place. Light it on fire. Cause chaos. Get them to evacuate. Find Vural in the mess, kill him, take the book back, and go home.”
Prime’s smile fades. “Sounds easy.”
“It won’t be. There’s a good chance we’ll lose people. An even better chance half of us will end up in prison.”
“I’m not afraid of doing time.”
“Get everyone on the same page. We’re moving in ten minutes.”
“Not much prep.”
“We don’t have the luxury.” I nod back at his truck. “You got weapons in there?”
His grin returns. “Fuck, yes, I do. Vests, rifles, whatever you need.”
I rub my hands together. “How about grenades?”
“You’re in for a treat.”
My leg aches like hell. Each step is agony. The vest I’m wearing chafes. I have goggles, a mask to protect against smoke, and a tactical helmet. I look like a fucking Navy Seal.
Prime’s men wear a similar kit. More soldiers arrive, all of them armed. News about the Black Book spreads like wildfire, and I can tell the men are rattled. I get more than a few calls from the council, and I send them all to voicemail. Eventually, I have to turn off my phone.
“You understand the plan?” We’re crouched behind a line of trucks fifty feet from the hotel.
“Easy enough. You’re sure you want to be the one to kick it all off?”
“Absolutely.” I glance over my shoulder, back toward the city. There’s no turning back, but a part of me wishes I could see Kira one more time. She’d have something clever to say. “Let’s get this over with.”
I stride out of cover. If anyone’s looking out their window, they probably think a SWAT team is about to kick down the hotel’s front doors.
The lobby is fashionable, if a little empty. Couches and seating on the right, a little bar to the left, and the front desk straight ahead. The staff stares at me, their mouths hanging open. I stride straight up to one of the girls.
“Uh, hello, officer, what can I do for you?”
“There’s a man staying here. His name is Isak Vural.” I show her a photo of him on my phone.
“I’m sorry, it’s against policy—”
I level my rifle at her face. “Which room is he staying in?”
Her eyes go wide as she starts typing. “He’s in 323, corner suite, but I recognize that guy. He’s under the name Michael Corsetti.”
Cheeky fucking bastard.
“Evacuate the hotel. Hit the fire alarm right now.”
“But there’s no fire?”
I pull the pin on a grenade. “There is now.” I toss it over to the empty couches. It goes off with a concussive boom and sends wood shrapnel all over the place. Fire instantly spreads across the nearby carpets and window treatments, much faster than I imagined.
Prime and his guys storm in once the explosion goes off. They’ll be securing all entrances to make sure Vural can’t escape. “Room 323. Expect trouble.”
“Always do.” Prime takes five soldiers and hurries to the stairs. I take five and go to the elevators. They stay behind to secure the escape route in case Vural slips past while I take one up to the second floor.
The place is strangely empty. Even with the fire alarm now blaring like crazy, I step out and there’s silence. I expected a stampede of terrified guests.
But there’s nobody here.
My radio crackles. “Stellan, it’s Prime. This place is like a fucking graveyard.”
“I was just thinking the same thing. There’s nobody here.”
“What the fuck is going on?”
I take one step—and it hits me.
“He rented out the whole place.”
A nearby door bangs open and a man holding a rifle comes storming into the hall. I barely have time to drop to a knee and shoot him in the face. He’s surprised as his head’s blown to little pieces. I take a step back, eyes wide with shock, as more and more doors kick open.
They’re here. His entire organization is here.
And they’re occupying the entire building.
The stupid bastard thought filling it up with soldiers was a good idea.
But now I don’t need to hesitate.
I pull another grenade, rip out the pin, and throw it.
I don’t have time to survey the damage. The explosion rocks the floor as I throw myself to the ground.
Bullets rip the air all around me. There’s more shooting in the distance, but I don’t know what’s happening.
Probably Prime trying to get up the stairwell.
I toss another grenade and another. After the third, I’m totally out. I get to my knees and shuffle to the edge of the wall, daring a single peek around.