Chapter 21 Marco
MARCO
I pour a glass of scotch for Roman and hand it to him, taking a seat behind my desk.
"Gabriella said all went as planned.” It’s not that I don’t believe her, because I do. But that doesn’t mean someone wasn’t watching. Someone who could put her in danger.
Roman takes a slow sip of his Scotch. "It did. She handled Blackwood like a pro. Fed him exactly what we discussed, nothing more."
The knot in my chest loosens slightly. "And Blackwood? Any sign he's on to us?"
"None that I could see.” Roman swirls his drink. "You know, she's smarter than most of the men we work with. Quick on her feet too."
I give a curt nod. Her intelligence has never been in question. It’s one of the many things I lov—I respect about her.
“I didn’t see anything unusual in or around the café," Roman continues. "Just Blackwood's standard team. Regular customers.” He downs his drink. “I’ll admit, it took a great deal of self-restraint not to throttle the man. Blackwood is a snake."
I arch a brow.
“That fucker nearly got Isabella killed. He manipulated her, made her believe we murdered her mother." His eyes meet mine. "How much do you want to bet he knew what Sal was—”
“But Isabella is safe now.” There’s no sense in rehashing the past. “And you have a beautiful wife and new baby.”
His jaw tics. “Yeah, well… Blackwood uses people's weaknesses against them. He found Isabella's need for justice. What do you think he'll use against Gabriella?"
“No doubt, he’s using me and her belief that I'm trying to take over the Monti business. Luckily, she doesn’t believe that anymore.”
He studies me. “That would mean she doesn’t need your monitoring anymore, right?”
I nod.
He smirks and shakes his head.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “What?”
“You should admit you like her. Maybe then—”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, not this again.” I’m probably overreacting, but I don’t want Roman to see the truth of his words.
He laughs. “Whatever.”
It’s not that I don’t want to admit my feelings. Well, it is because my feelings terrify me.
"Any word from Falcone about those men at the warehouse?" I move on to a more pressing subject. The ambush still haunts me. The level of coordination and manpower suggests someone is serious about ending me, and they came damn close to succeeding.
Roman's expression darkens. "Got the call this morning. The men were mercenaries. Ex-military types who'll kill anyone for the right price."
"Professionals," I mutter, remembering their tactical precision.
"Three of them had Special Forces training. Another two were dishonorable discharges from Army Rangers. Weapons were military-grade as well. Serial numbers were filed off, but Falcone is trying to trace the ammunition."
“Can’t be cheap. Who hired them?”
"That's where the trail goes cold." Roman shakes his head in frustration. "Falcone says they used cutouts and offshore accounts."
"Someone with resources, then." I tap my finger against the desk, thinking. "Someone who knows our movements. Knows we’re working with Antonio.”
I strain my brain trying to figure out who’d go to this level of effort to eliminate us. “Frank said his men were worried we’d blame Antonio.”
Roman shakes his head. “He’d shoot you in his office if he wanted you dead.”
I nod. “But what if there was someone in the Monti family who, like Gabriella, thought I was encroaching on what isn’t mine?”
Roman thinks on that for a moment. “Possible, I suppose. But it could just as well be that someone is hoping they’ll be blamed. There’s a master manipulator out there. They’ve already tried to turn Ferraza against you.”
I lean forward. “What about Blackwood? We know he manipulates.”
“But would he bring in assassins? I don’t doubt he’d do questionable shit, but I think he wants to perp walk you in front of everyone in New York.”
“Keep on Falcone. And your ear to the ground. There’s something going on and I don’t like it.”
“Someone is playing a long game,” Roman agrees.
My phone buzzes. Dominic Vitale's name flashes on the screen. Wonder what he wants.
"Marco." Dom's voice is terse, as usual. "We have a situation."
"What kind of situation?"
"One of my men spotted Gabriella with Blackwood today."
Fucking hell. "Your man was following her?"
"No." Dom sounds irritated at the implication. "He was at the café on his own business. Pure coincidence."
“Are you the only one he’s told?”
“So he says. And I couldn’t tell him the truth because the whole point is to weed out a traitor, but…”
He doesn’t need to explain to me the problem here.
If it gets out to members of the families that Gabriella met with a federal agent, she’ll be the one seen as a traitor. “Surely, you told him to keep his mouth shut.”
“I did. Said I’d handle it. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t mention it to anyone sooner. You know how these things spread."
"Fuck." I rub my forehead as I consider all possible ramifications. Maybe this man is the leak we’re looking for. Or maybe he really was stopping in for a cup of coffee. “You need to keep a leash on him, Dom.”
“Lucci knows to heed my word, but that doesn’t mean Antonio’s daughter isn’t in danger from men looking to protect La Corona.”
I don’t need Dom telling me that Gabriella may have a target on her back. “Thanks for the heads up.”
I hang up. "We've got a problem,” I say to Roman. “That was Dom. One of his men spotted Gabriella with Blackwood today."
"Shit. Who?” His brow furrows as if he’s replaying the day, wondering why he didn’t notice the man.
“Lucci. He went in for coffee. You know him?”
Roman shrugs. “I know of him. I’ll check him out. Where's Gabriella now?"
I glance at my watch. "At her father's helping with Christmas party preparations."
"I'll beef up security around her immediately," Roman says. "I’ll talk with Frank about doubling the men at Antonio's place.”
“Here too. This new situation requires her to remain here.”
Roman’s lips twitch. “Right. She needs to stay here.”
I roll my eyes. “She’s safer here than with her father.” But is she? Fuck.
"Of course."
"Just handle the security,” I say, standing to get another drink.
“You got it.” Roman leaves my office, and not a moment too soon as he was starting to irritate me.
But now alone, my thoughts about Gabriella and her safety spiral.
Whoever this mole is, they've positioned themselves perfectly.
Close enough to know our movements, connected enough to hire professional killers, patient enough to wait for the perfect moment.
And now Gabriella's been seen with Blackwood, which puts her in the crosshairs of every made man in La Corona.
Fortunately, as a Don’s daughter, no one should take action without permission of their Don, but I can’t rely on this.
An ambitious soldier could take it on himself to kill her as a means to gain recognition.
Could the mole be in the Vitale family?
Dom's man spotting her seems too convenient.
But then again, the attacks have primarily targeted Antonio's businesses and my men.
Perhaps someone in the Monti organization is making a play for power, knowing Antonio's mental state is deteriorating.
Or worse, could I still have someone in my own ranks betraying me?
Roman did a good job of culling the men after discovering Salvatore’s deception last year.
I need to let Antonio know about this new potential threat.
I’m sure he’ll want to boost his security even without Roman coordinating with Frank.
His home is secure.
She could stay there and I could finally have my life back. But…
No. She stays with me.
Two hours later, the front door opens, and I'm on my feet heading to the foyer.
Gabriella walks in, cheeks flushed from the cold.
The sight of her steals my breath away.
"You're back," I say.
Her smile is bright. “I told you I would be back.” She tilts her head, studying me. “Is something wrong?”
I take her coat, using the moment to compose myself, to prepare to tell her she won’t be returning home any time soon, after all.
She won't like being told she can’t go home.
"We need to talk," I say, guiding her toward my office. "There's been a development."
"That sounds ominous." She follows me.
Inside my office, I pour her a glass of wine, buying time.
How do I tell her she's potentially marked for death?
That her involvement with Blackwood might have already leaked?
"You can't go back to your father's," I say, direct and firm. "It's not safe. You'll stay here until we identify our mole."
I brace for her protest, the inevitable push against my authority.
Instead, she takes the wine glass, a small smile playing at her lips.
"Look at you, getting all protective," she says, her tone light. "If I didn't know better, I'd think I was growing on you, Marco Calabresi."
The teasing catches me off guard. I expected anger and defiance. "This isn't a joke, Gabriella."
"I know." Her smile softens as she steps closer. "But you're cute when you're worried."
I have that shifting sensation in my chest again.
The one that feels like a tether growing tighter from me to her.
A binding that I don’t want, and yet, can’t seem to cut.
"Just… stay close.”
She presses her hand to my chest. Can she feel my heart rate jump?
"I'm not going anywhere, Marco."
God help me, I want that to be true.