67. Cavalry
CAVALRY
The sun is sinking when Misha calls again.
“You have the address?”
“I just sent you an address. I don’t know how accurate the signal is, and I haven’t had time to check property records. But that was the last location. I thought you’d want to know right away.”
“I do.” I walk inside the villa, heading toward Salvatore’s office.
“There were thousands of records, and I had to get through the company’s encryption, too, not just the hospital’s. Also, the device is no longer transmitting any signal, so if they took it off and then moved them …”
“Understood.”
“I’m headed back to my hotel now. I’ll try to find out anything else I can.”
“Thank you,” I tell him, then hang up and enter Salvatore’s office. “Let’s go.”
Enzo scrambles off the couch in the corner where he was resting. “You know where she is?”
“Maybe.”
Salvatore’s already on his phone, barking orders.
Everyone was waiting for this moment, but there are still last-minute preparations.
There are enough munitions in what formerly served as a dining room to outfit a small army, which is essentially what’s assembled.
It’s strange, suiting up with a group of strangers instead of a familiar team, but I don’t catch one disgusted look or snide comment aimed my way.
Some of these men must remember Carina’s mother’s murder.
The worst sort of coward targets someone who didn’t choose this life.
We have a common enemy for the time being.
I climb into the first SUV. Salvatore is driving, and Carina’s brothers are crammed in the back seat.
“Issue a no-kill order for Morello,” I tell Salvatore, who’s wearing an earpiece that delivers to every channel.
The rest of ours are segregated into teams. A tech group is pulling satellite images to give us a better advantage going in, but divide and conquer is a tried-and-true strategy.
They shouldn’t be expecting us to have found them so soon, and we’re headed in with fifty men. Numbers should be on our side.
“She’s my daughter,” he argues.
“She’s my wife. He’s mine to deal with.”
Thinking about the different ways I’ll kill Nico Morello is the only activity that’s soothed my simmering fury. No stray bullet is going to snuff his life out. His death will be slow and excruciating.
Salvatore gives the order.
“I get to help,” Enzo says eagerly.
“No. She won’t recognize most of the men.” We’re all wearing tactical gear. “Find her, get her out, and take her somewhere safe.” I glance at Salvatore. “That goes for you too.”
I don’t need anyone to tell me it’s unusual for the boss to be taking part in a mission like this.
If Misha is right and this is the correct location, it will be well guarded.
It’s probably Morello’s main dwelling, his hidden estate, where he can lower his guard.
We know nothing about the property, haven’t done any surveillance or research.
It’s a risky operation under the best circumstances, meaning there will be casualties on our side too.
“Did you call more men?” Leo asks suddenly.
I peer through the windshield. Six more SUVs are headed this way, on the opposite side of the gate.
“No,” Salvatore states grimly.
Luca curses.
“Is there another exit?” I ask.
If we split up, half the cars can proceed as planned. If these men are Morello’s, he’s spread out his resources already.
“The main road connects up ahead,” Salvatore replies. “Driving around will add a lot of time.”
Up ahead, the other cars have stopped outside the gate.
“There’s a guard there?” I ask.
“Yes.”
“Only one?”
“Yes.” Salvatore hesitates, then says, “There are explosives buried.”
Ideal for keeping others out. The problem is, we need to be able to exit. A massive explosion that blows up the road isn’t going to speed up that process.
The driver’s door of the front car opens. I hear a click behind me as one of Carina’s brothers readies his gun. We’re well armed at least. But this isn’t where I want to have this fight.
And then I see who is stepping out of the car. Swear. “Don’t shoot,” I order, then pop my door open and climb out. Stride toward the gate and shout, “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“I heard Italy is really nice this time of year.” Maksim makes a face. “What the fuck do you think we’re doing here, Lev? She’s a Sokolov, and you’re our brother.”
I open my mouth to respond, then notice who is sitting on the passenger side of the lead vehicle.
Maksim showing up is a shock. But I never ever would have guessed that Aleksandr would come here to help. He’s the future pakhan. After Igor, his life is most valuable. That’s how hierarchies function and empires survive.
I don’t know what to say. There aren’t words to convey what this means to me. And I don’t have time to come up with anything sentimental to say, not with Carina’s life on the line.
“Misha sent you the address?” Maksim asks.
I nod. “We’re headed there now.”
Maksim nods back. “We’ll follow.”
I count the cars again. “How many men do you have?”
“Twenty-five.”
More—much more—than I expected. More than could have left without Igor noticing.
He sent Misha to Chicago too. Those motivations were partially selfish.
He can hate it all he wants, but Carina is a Sokolov.
As pakhan, he can’t treat her abduction as acceptable.
No response would be a signal of weakness to our enemies, no matter where she was taken from.
Calculations aside, he could have forbidden Maksim and Aleksandr from coming. That he didn’t is a show of support I hadn’t thought my father was capable of.
My throat threatens to close again. I clear it forcibly. “You got an extra seat?”
Maksim nods. “Aleksandr was complaining about the air-conditioning not working. Other guys squeezed into the other cars after the last stop. Lucky me.”
I suppress a smile. “I’ll be right there.”
I turn and head back toward Salvatore’s SUV. His window is rolled down—they were trying to hear what we were saying. Based on his unsure expression, my Italian is better than his Russian.
“Open the gate,” I tell him.
“Who’s here?”
“My men. I’ll ride with them. We’ll take the lead and manage the front assault. Let me know once you locate her. Fall back, and we’ll take care of Morello and anyone else.”
“We’re just as—” Luca starts hotly.
Salvatore silences him. He still appears uneasy, but he makes the same leap of faith I did in trusting him. He motions to the gate guard, and it swings open.
I turn and walk through the opening, joining my brothers.