29. Liam
29
LIAM
H eading to a golf course to kill an assistant to the governor didn’t sound like a smart idea. I didn’t hesitate to tell Franco that as he drove us there.
“I’m not saying we should wait,” I argued as I sat in the passenger seat and cradled my gun between my knees. He’d taken one of the beat-up trucks for this assignment, all the better to hide and disguise ourselves should anyone be following us.
“The sooner we do this, the better,” he reminded me.
I got that. I did. The Constella Family didn’t do anything rash. I wasn’t sure if it was tradition, self-control, or learning from mistakes in the past, but Dante ran a tight ship. He expected all of us, from Romeo, to Franco, and all the way down to every soldier, to do their best. Doing our best included planning things out.
And setting up an op at a wide-open golf course seemed like a plan that might need more consideration.
“We need to always stay one step ahead of the game,” he added.
“I get that, I do.” I splayed my hand at the window, indicating the open landscape. “But a golf course? It’s a vulnerable area to attempt this.”
Franco shook his head. “It’ll be harder later. He’s taking advantage of the mild weather today. I mean, it’s seventy in late February.”
I chuckled. “It does feel bizarre to have it this warm.”
“Eh. It won’t last. And listen, man, I’m not trying to rush this for the sake of hurrying. He’ll be out of town a lot next month, and it’ll be harder to reach him.”
“Yeah. I can see that. But…” I shrugged, knowing my argument faded the closer we got to the point we’d studied on satellite images. The courses were too crowded, surprisingly, and I realized that this might go smoothly after all.
I was most used to being asked to perform as a sniper in remote locations, in warzones. Not golf courses for the elite members of politics.
“Never mind,” I said, waving him off. “I’ll get it done.”
He chuckled. “You’ll be back in no time. Congrats, by the way.”
I smiled, relaxing with the thought of Eva on my mind again. “Nina already said she’d watch Olivia so Eva and I could celebrate over dinner.”
“I thought you were planning on proposing at that wedding.”
I smirked. “At the end of the wedding, but we didn’t stay until the end.”
“Ah. Right. And Olivia’s not too shaken up?” he asked.
“No. She was scared last night, but she’s all right today. That’s why we wanted to keep her at home, with someone she’s familiar with, like Nina.”
“Makes sense.”
I blew out a long breath as we neared where I’d set up my scope. We had to time it right down to the tee—literally, the tee time of that hole where Oscar Morelli would be setting up to swing at. “I hate that she’ll always be on the cusp of danger,” I admitted, feeling free to speak my mind with Franco, “but this is the life I want. With Eva. Working with you, Dante, and Romeo.”
“She’ll be safe. Anything can happen, but we have men in place. Last night prompted us to review our security measures, and you can trust that Dante is bothered about this. With Nina pregnant and at that house?” He huffed a laugh. “He won’t take any chances. Not with her or their baby, not with any of us. It’s a real family here, Liam. Not just a job.”
“I can see that.” But setting up the scope and taking my shot while Franco served as my lookout was just a job. Just another kill. Keeping myself dissociated from it helped me to not dwell on it. Maybe that was how my buddy Ethan in Brooklyn coped with his decision to consider hiring himself out as an elite hitman on call.
The world was full of danger. There were too many “bad guys”, and I was coming to really see how the Constellas weren’t all bad.
On the way back after the successful hit, Franco received a call.
“Please, no. Nothing can come up now.” I laughed as he shot me a look.
I meant it, though. I wanted one day to share with Eva, to commemorate my admittedly poorly executed proposal.
Franco listened to whoever spoke on the other end, and I gritted my teeth at his tense expression.
Shit. Something’s happened. Because of course something has.
“Where? Near Brooklyn?” he asked the caller.
Okay, nothing to do with anyone at the house, then. Sometimes, this guy amazed me. He was on top of so many other capos, all the soldiers, like a chief commander. How he kept track of so many operations and employees was beyond my imagination, and I bet I’d never fail to look up to the man who was already more like a friend than a boss.
“Does it look like the Giovannis did it?” he asked.
Those fuckers. I shook my head, looking out the window both to watch the scenery blur by and also to check the passenger mirror for anyone following us or noticing us. I would never lose that paranoid nature I couldn’t shut off. It was simply a part of who I was. Always on edge. Always alert.
Especially after killing a prominent but crooked assistant to a politician.
“Huh. Yeah. Okay. Well, no. I’m headed back to Dante. You can fill him in. Yeah. Yeah. Bye.”
Once he disconnected, I rolled my head on the cushion to face him. “Now what?” I kept my tone neutral, not whiny. They were paying me very well. I was marrying into the family. But I wasn’t afraid to stand up for myself if it seemed like they would be taking advantage of me. I was likely the only decent sniper they had in the organization. I assumed that not with inflated confidence but with the years I’d put in to become the specialized firearms expert that the army wanted me to be.
“One of the businesses was attacked.”
I exhaled a long breath.
“No, it’s nothing you need to deal with.”
Now I felt like an ass, slacking. “Hey, I’m here for whatever you need, but?—”
“No. Not this. They fucking shot the place up. Only one employee survived, and I’ll need someone to track them down to talk with them. Sounds like he or she is the only witness.”
I nodded, absorbing this news. It really was one thing after the other. “I can ride along and help.”
“To find a witness who’s probably scared shitless after their workplace was shot up?” He grunted a bitter laugh. “Yeah, that will take a while. It sounds like they ran after the shooting happened.”
“Can’t say I’d blame them. What business was it?”
“A deli. Just a cover business. Sometimes, they packaged drugs in the basement.”
“And you think the Giovannis are behind it?” I was getting sick of that rival family already. They were a thorn in my side, and I’d only just joined the Constella Family. Dante had to be exhausted from putting up with them—former friends or not.
“Tony, the capo who called me, seems to think it’s something the Giovannis did with the way it happened. I’m not so sure, though. Another soldier seemed ready to swear it wasn’t them.”
I sighed. It already sounded like a hassle. “So, now what? Comb through surveillance and track what you can?”
“That and finding this surviving witness and seeing what they say. No.” He shook his head. “Scratch that. What’s next for you is bringing you back to the house so you can have your date night with Eva.”
“Hey, security first.”
He nodded, solemn but not gloomy. Like this was just another day in the life for him. “It is. Until this becomes a situation where I need your specific skills and talents, we have many other men on the force who can assist me.”
“Okay. But if you ever need me… or just want my help.”
He parked at the house, nodding and smiling a bit. “Then I’ll call you.” He held out his hand for a shake, and I shook it.
“You’re a good man, Liam. I’m glad you’re really staying in the family. Marrying into it and all.”
I nodded, hesitating before getting out of the truck. Franco was married to his job. He was a hardcore man who managed so many things and dealt with so many people in the organization. I didn’t want him to look at me as just someone else to move or place on assignments.
“Go on. Have a good night. You and Eva deserve a chance to celebrate.” He tipped his head toward the door.
I sighed, hating that he was dismissing himself to the job. Sure, it was a priority to be on, but the man needed to take care of himself too. Going nonstop and working without any balance would burn him out.
I’ll be keeping an eye on you, buddy. He was a friend more than anything else, and I would never slack in taking care of those close to me.
Now wasn’t the time to argue with him, though. He was determined to stay working, not slow down or delegate the supervision of this issue to the other capo, Tony, or any other soldier.
Defeated in this argument, I reminded him once more to call me if he needed or wanted help, then I headed up the steps to go find my girls.
It was surreal how different one day could make. Last night, Eva and I rushed up these stairs and hurried past the patrolling guards who’d been shot with the tranq darts. Today, the pair of soldiers standing on guard smiled at me and nodded as I reached the entrance.
“How’d it go, Liam?” one asked.
“Perfectly.”
I entered and went upstairs to find Eva. We had hours before our attempt at a dinner date could start, but that wouldn’t keep me from her. She, too, needed to keep a balance in life.
Olivia had grown so quickly, already nearing her second birthday, and it was crazy how fast life blurred by. She’d reached so many milestones and she was so fast on her feet now, jumping, running, and leaping. Eva kept up with her, but it added up. Toddlers, quite frankly, were no joke. Every night, we fell asleep too soon because Liv wore us out during the day, and Eva handled her more when I was off on assignments.
Still, I wouldn’t have it any other way. And I could tell she wouldn’t either.
I found them napping in the bedroom. One of those annoying cartoon shows was on, but it was muted, thank God. Instead of waking them, I walked up to the edge of the bed and watched them resting together. Even though Olivia seemed normal and like her usual happy, peppy self earlier, there was a good chance the stress and trauma from last night could linger yet. For Eva, too. We were both so worked up when we worried that something could be happening at home. That sort of distress didn’t just fade after the incident was finished.
A little bit of guilt lingered. Here I was, able to relax and have downtime, but Franco was out there, still working hard.
Maybe I should’ve just gone along with him. Even for a little bit to assess the scene. Capos didn’t have partners as far as I could tell, but if he wanted a partner on the clock, I’d step up and fill that role if he wanted me to.
After all, they’re just napping here. I wasn’t in the mood to wake Eva or Olivia. They needed their rest, but since I was up, I could go join Franco on that case.
Or… I gave in to a wide but silent yawn, realizing I could take care of myself and go for what I wanted at the moment. I showered quickly not wanting to get the bed dirty from when I took my shot in the wood line at the edge of that golf course.
Then I climbed into the bed with Eva and Olivia.
The instant I wrapped my arm around Eva’s side and placed my hand on Olivia’s back, all was right in my world again.
I’ll help Franco later. But right now, I’m exactly where I need to be.
I closed my eyes, breathing in the familiar scent of Eva’s shampoo. Past that, I detected the clean baby scent that I hoped Olivia never outgrew.
We were safe, and we’d stay together, our own little family within the larger one.
My future was full of hope, and I’d never lose sight of that blessing, no matter what.