27. ution
27
EXECUTION
TYLER
The plan that had been brewing in my mind was about to be executed. The Mussolini’s had wreaked havoc on all of our lives for so long, but the Russians were the ones who took away my child and kept Giovanna from me. There could be no forgiveness for that. Tonight, would be the night of reckoning.
I carefully went over my detailed plan once again with Ian, Luke, Angelo, and Frankie, as well as Nico and Ice Man. I made sure every possible scenario was covered, and contingency plans were in place. Jacob had been brought into the fold, double-checking that all surrounding roads were clear, and no trains would be passing through during our operation.
Giovanni and Valentino were given strict instructions to watch over Amber, Aurora, Giovanna, Jade, Kirsten, and Nadia at my sister’s house for their safety and remain there until we returned. Though they were both in charge of their own families, we needed top tier protection for the evening, and though they were both bosses of their own families, they were happy to assist. Ian hadn’t wanted Jenna anywhere near the fight since he was working at the event. It was one less thing for him to worry about.
Our allies were all quietly instructed to leave the premises as soon as the fight ended, while we ushered our enemies to the neighboring warehouse. I shoved an earpiece into my ear, waiting for security to alert me that the final person had safely vacated, and he was leaving.
Some of our friends worked swiftly to set up the pretend party. Fake palm trees were adorned with glittering lights, casting a warm and inviting glow over the space. It transformed the once-drab warehouse into a lavish Vegas party, complete with neon lights and vibrant colors. The tables were filled with platters of decadent food and an array of sparkling drinks, giving the scene an air of luxury.
The casino section of the warehouse was also filled with a variety of lights, mimicking the atmosphere of a Las Vegas casino. Plush red area rugs strategically placed covered the floor, hiding any remnants of the gruesome massacres that took place here. The tables were decorated with sleek poker chips and ornate decks of cards, ready for their targets.
Nico positioned himself outside the warehouse, his keen eyes scanning each special guest as they filed into the building. We needed to make sure none of our drunk or high friends made it into the afterparty.
Ivan, still struggling to walk straight after our fight and his face unrecognizable, was supported by his brawny bodyguards, who helped him inside. I kept a watchful eye on him from a distance as the crowd dispersed around us. One by one, members of the Mussolini family arrived at the door, being allowed inside.
Not wanting to raise any suspicion, I quickly made my way back to Ian’s office, hastily changing back into my suit. I joined Angelo, Frankie, and Bruno, while Ian remained with Luke, Declan, Chance, and Ice Man. Standing in the center of the warehouse that had brought us so much trouble and heartache over the years, I smiled, knowing that this would be the last time I ever set foot inside its walls.
Ekaterina sauntered up to me, her stride oozing with confidence and a hint of menace. Her face was adorned with a smug expression as she spoke, “You broke the rules, Tyler. Tsk tsk.”
“I did no such thing, Kat,” I countered coolly. “Your brother played a very dirty game with my fiancée, and I had no choice but to respond the way I did. You would’ve done the same.”
Ivan hobbled over, still being supported by other men with an ice pack pressed against his bruised face. He lowered it, coming to a stop in front of me. “I want to murder you.”
“The feeling is mutual, Ivan,” I retorted with a sardonic smile as Ian approached.
“But,” Ivan continued through gritted teeth, “a deal’s a deal, and I will reluctantly play by your rules for now. But mark my words, we have a world of problems between us in the future.”
“Ah,” I let out a laugh, “I really look forward to that.”
Ian stepped in calmly, sensing my rising anger, and attempted to diffuse the situation. “Tonight, can we please call a temporary truce and enjoy a great night of entertainment and drinks together?” I was sure their suspicions would rise at Ian’s sudden calm and friendly demeanor since their last exchange had been heated.
The Russians shared an uncertain look before Ekaterina flashed her signature, flawless, white grin with bright red lips. “Tonight, we drink. Tomorrow, we feud.”
By now, I was running over the plan in my head, hoping my family and friends didn’t falter. I needed to make sure we were perfectly synchronized for it to go off without a hitch. Taking a microphone from the mic stand, I stepped up onto a small platform, lifting it to my face.
“Thanks everyone, for coming tonight,” I began, and the room became silent, all turning to me. “I know we’ve all had our differences in the past,” I arched a brow at Gino Mussolini, “and some of us still do,” I glanced at Ekaterina, Ivan and their fifteen guests in attendance. “But tonight proved that we can co-exist when we need to.” I glanced at Ian who gave me a nod that everything was going according to plan. “We’re going to mingle, get liquored up, and play some games before a special finale I’ve put together as a thank you for coming together in one place.”
The room erupted into cheers I didn’t expect.
“The bar is open, and Ian sent our lovely bartender home for the evening to rest, so feel free to mix your own drinks as strong as you’d like them!”
More celebration broke out as everyone gathered around the alcohol. I stepped off the platform, turned the microphone off, and slipped it into my back pocket. Chance approached me with a wide grin.
“Why are you here?” I asked sternly. “You should be at Jen’s. She’s going to kill me if something happens to you.”
“To be fair,” he snorted, “she’s going to kill you if anything happens to any of us.”
“But you’re so adamant about not being one of us,” I countered. “You should be out of the line of fire.”
With a stern stance and narrowed eyes, he held a finger in the air. “I am one of you assholes now,” he announced, with a hint of pride in his voice. “And furthermore?—”
“Heyyy!” Gino waltzed over. “Chance Hardwin, the man! How are you?!”
Chance’s reply was laced with faux pleasantries as he maintained his fa?ade. “Great, thanks.”
Gino continued to praise him before turning to introduce Chance to other members of the group. Sensing an opportunity, I excused myself and navigated my way through the crowd, trying not to draw attention to myself. I needed to make my rounds, ensuring everything was in place. I made eye contact with each of our men, giving them the signal to start exiting the building one by one so we weren’t noticed.
People gathered at the casino tables, playing poker or blackjack. Others gathered at the bar, mixing more concoctions and telling war stories.
Ian and I passed one another, and he stopped me. “We’re the last two in here. Chance left after talking to Gino. Are you sure about this?”
“Are you ?” I countered. “This has been your property for years now.”
Examining the large space, he sighed, then brought his gaze back to mine. “I’m ready to let go of what needs to go.”
“Okay,” I confirmed. “Did you text Jake?”
“Yeah, he said everything’s clear, and we have about ten minutes before the next train.”
“The news station ready?”
He nodded once.
“Okay,” I said, taking the microphone from my pocket. “Let’s do this.” I switched it on, placing it in front of my mouth as Ian and I stepped up onto the platform side by side. “Again, we wanted to get up here and thank everyone for coming tonight. We have a special finale planned to celebrate the temporary truce.” I pointed toward an enormous, white wall across the warehouse. “Please take a look at the screen and don’t be alarmed. The room is about to go dark, but the video is only five minutes long.”
Laughs rang throughout the room. “No one fight anyone!” someone joked.
“It’s been a fun night,” I sneered as we stepped off the platform, and the lights slowly dimmed as we made our way toward the back of the room behind everyone. The moment the space went dark, the video started, and Ian and I exited the warehouse with Nico lingering at the door. Angelo was waiting outside.
Nico spun around, chaining the door closed. “They’re secured.”
Ian pressed his earpiece as we strode across the parking lot. Everyone out and accounted for?
Yeah, we’re all out , Luke replied, and we’re across the bridge.
We’re on the way , Ian said. Cutting all communication now. See you soon.
Right about now, the video was greeting everyone, thanking them once again for coming before running through a Polaroid-style slideshow of all the deceased Mussolini family members. Then, it would be followed by a flip-book style of everyone locked in the warehouse right now. And then my voice would play over graphic photos of their family that Jacob provided us. He kept them as evidence in a locked file in his home in case we ever needed him to pin our crimes on someone else.
Taking the microphone from my back pocket, I tossed it over my shoulder to the parking lot with a thud. Banging could be heard on the large bay doors as they were all in a panic, realizing they’d been tricked and trapped inside. During the video, I’d informed them:
The people you see in these photos and those around you are anything but innocent. Tonight, you put your trust in the wrong people when you showed up for a staged event. Your families have held us captive, trapped us, and tortured us. They’ve set us up, they’ve killed some of us. But tonight, it ends forever. You have seventy-three seconds to make yourselves another drink or take your own lives. There are weapons locked in a cabinet next to the bar. The code is 1234. When you get to hell, be sure to tell your relatives who sent you there.
We hopped into Nico’s Jeep, peeling out, the tires kicking up dirt and loose cement as we sped away from the property. I glanced down at my watch as we crossed over the train tracks and bridge.
“3… 2?—”
BOOM!
GIOVANNA
Restlessly, I wandered through the luxurious den, my eyes seeking any sort of distraction. Amber and Aurora huddled in a corner talking about work while Jade paced the room just as I was, huffing every time she checked her watch. Kirsten and Nadia were in the kitchen, cleaning her wounds.
Roaming into the adjoining living room, I paused by a plush maroon wingback chair nestled in the corner. From this spot, I had a perfect view of the front yard and its swaying trees, casting eerie shadows in the moonlight. My fingers traced over the soft velvet fabric of the chair as I sank into it, unable to tear my gaze away from the men outside.
Giovanni and Valentino stood by their sleek Mercedes SUV, puffing on cigarettes, while their bodyguards, Trigger and Joseph, kept a watchful eye nearby. The rest of the property was heavily guarded by several other armed men, adding to the tense night.
Jenna’s voice echoed in the quiet room, pulling me out of my thoughts as she entered with two steaming mugs. The sharp, fragrant aroma of Earl Grey tea filled my nostrils as she handed me one of the mugs.
“I never got rid of that chair,” she said with a hint of sadness in her tone as she sat on a nearby loveseat. “I couldn’t bring myself to do it.”
My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “What?”
“On the day of my parents’ funeral, I sat there watching the media on the other side of the gate, waiting to get a glimpse of my family grieving our parents’ deaths.”
“They’ve left Ty and I alone for the most part, but once in a while we still get stopped about it,” she continued, tucking her feet up onto the cushion beside her. “It’s hard to believe how much we’ve been through, and now it’s all coming to an end.”
I rolled my eyes playfully at her, trying to lighten the mood.
She laughed softly. “Yeah, until the next tragedy strikes. I know.”
With a heavy sigh, I raised the steaming cup of tea to my lips and took a slow sip, trying to calm my nerves. My eyes were fixed on the window, watching every set of headlights that passed by on the road outside the gate. Each time a car slowed down, my heart skipped a beat, hoping it was someone returning home safely from whatever Tyler had planned. But my brain was in overdrive, running in endless circles, as I anxiously awaited their arrival.
“They always come back.” Jenna’s voice broke through my thoughts. “He’ll be back too.”
I nodded, grateful for her reassurance but still feeling fidgety. “I just wish I could have stayed and helped.”
She giggled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “You and Jade are so much alike in that way. Always wanting to be in the thick of things. But sometimes it’s better to stay out of it all.”
Standing up, I met her eyes. “Being cooped up in here is driving me insane. I need a distraction.”
She stood up as well, placing her mug carefully on a coaster on the end table before wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug. I embraced her in return just as tightly, taking comfort in her warmth and support. “I know a hug isn’t much of a distraction,” she said softly, pulling away, “but I love you, and I’m so grateful to have you as my future sister-in-law.” Tears filled her eyes as she took a step back. “I was supposed to have a little sister too, but my mom had a stillborn three years after I was born.”
My hand flew to my chest in shock and sadness. “Oh, my God. I had no idea. I’m so sorry.”
She dismissed my worries. “No need to apologize, everything is fine now that you’re here. It’s like you’ve always been a part of our family, like my sister. And I love the way you make Tyler feel at home and happy. He’s never been more content and himself than he is with you.”
A genuine smile spread across my face as I replied, “Thank you. Just so you know, I always wanted a big sister. Instead, I ended up with three older brothers.”
We laughed together, but it trailed off just as quickly when we spotted rows of headlights entering the driveway, and seven cars passing through the gates.
“They’re back!” Jenna called out excitedly.
The rest of the girls ran into the room, all of us lining up at the large window to count each person as they exited their vehicles. I set my tea down on the window ledge.
“They’re all here!” Amber exclaimed.
Jade let out a snort. “And no one’s limping. Must have been a great time that I had to miss.”
“Shut up,” Jenna snapped.
The heavy wooden door creaked open, and the group of men filed in. My heart raced as I pushed between them, my eyes fixed on Tyler. Without hesitation, I threw myself into his arms, relieved to feel his strong embrace. “Are you okay?”
His lips found mine in a quick but enthusiastic kiss before he pulled away slightly. “Not even a scratch from the fight,” he reassured me with a smile. “That’s all Ivan’s blood.”
Feeling a rush of emotions, I took a step back to get a better look at him. “What happened?”
“Turn on the news,” Giovanni’s voice called out from the foyer, causing us all to turn and follow Ian and Jenna into the den.
With a click of the remote, Ian switched on the television and tuned in to the news. The two historical warehouses were engulfed in roaring flames. My jaw dropped in shock as I watched the devastation unfold before my eyes.
These warehouses have been abandoned for some time now, so at the moment, it’s unclear what caused the explosion. We tried to get closer, but authorities have the area closed off as fire crews work to put out the flames. It’s also unclear if anyone was inside at the time of the explosion but we hope if they were, they got out in time. We’ll bring you updates as we get them. A homeless man near the area spoke with us off camera and refused to identify himself, but said the warehouses were frequently visited by local crime organizations. He thinks there’s a big secret inside, and someone was trying to destroy evidence, so we’ll see.
Jenna’s eyes went wide, and her jaw dropped. “You guys blew them up?!” she gasped.
Ian shook his head, a hint of amusement playing on his lips. “Not us. Tyler did it.”
Tyler slipped his arm around me, a sense of pride in his voice as he spoke. “When the Mussolini’s wanted to meet with me, my plan was always to have them pledge themselves to me so I could lure them to their demise. It was the perfect plan to end the war. And having the Russians close by was just a bonus. I knew that if there was a way to end it all, it would have to be with them together. Striking twice would be impossible.” He shrugged nonchalantly. “I only had one chance to get it right, and that’s why I kept most of it from the guys until I informed Ian that we needed to get everyone off the property after the fight. That’s when I gathered everyone together for a meeting and made sure we were all on the same page.”
Ian reached over and patted him on the shoulder, a look of admiration in his eyes. “He’s the only one who could’ve pulled that shit off.” Turning to Tyler, he crossed his arms and gave him an apologetic nod. “I’m sorry if I ever doubted your abilities, but you accomplished in one night what I’ve been trying to do for years. And not only did you take out our main enemy, but also other threats along with them.”
“Speaking of enemies,” I gulped nervously, catching their attention once again, “you killed Russian royalty. That won’t end well.”
Tyler’s grin stretched from ear to ear as he gazed down at me. His eyes sparkled with trouble, making my heartbeat even faster. “About that, I found out some disturbing information about Ekaterina and Ivan. Apparently, they were running their business in a sloppy manner, and it led to hits being put out on them by their own family several weeks ago.”
My eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Who would report that?”
Jade raised her hand sheepishly, causing Tyler and I both to burst into laughter.
An hour later, after discussing our plans for the children with Jenna and Ian, Tyler turned to them and asked if they could sleep at their place for the night. He wanted the night alone with me but reassured them we’d be back first thing in the morning to pick them up. Luca and Nadia happily went back to my apartment for the night, giving us some much-needed time alone.
In the car, he kept his fingers securely intertwined with mine on the center console as he drove in silence to the house. Once the car came to a stop, he turned toward me with concern etched on his face. “Are you okay? You took quite a beating tonight.”
I let out a snicker, feeling relieved that I could finally relax and wash off all the blood and grime from the night’s events. “I don’t want to talk about that right now. We’re both covered in blood. Just take me to the shower and fuck me.”