“You never know,” I muse, picturing the Ivan from Mimi’s execution. “The right motivation can turn almost anyone into a badass.”
“Or get a dumbass killed,” he responds with humor. “I trust the protection detail to take good care of her.”
“They do get paid well,” I agree, my eyes catching on Piper as she taps her wrist. “Looks like it’s showtime. I’ll call you after the meeting.”
I end the call with Ivan and join Piper at the elevator. She grabs the small bag, and I take the larger suitcase. The ride down is spent with light-hearted teasing as we both ignore the mounting tension. In the garage, Lorenzo, Carlos, and three crew members are awaiting us beside two black SUVs driven by Sergio and Cary.
After helping Piper inside one of them, I turn to Riley. “I want this garage locked down as soon as Sergio and Cary return. No one enters and no one leaves. Station men in the lobby of Simone Place, as usual, but I want the bulk of security at Grizzly HQ, as my brother and Madeline are staying there.”
“You got it, Boss,” he replies, snapping into work mode. “Would you like me to take up post over there since it’ll be quiet here?”
I nod as I consider this. “Contact Ivan and tell him I said to set you up at Grizzly Armor. You can do overall surveillance from there and keep an eye on Ivan while you’re at it.”
“Will do.”
On the plane ride, Lorenzo, Carlos, and I discuss strategy while looking through the folder of information I plan to share—both for the meeting, which Lorenzo will attend at my side, and for Carlos and the soldiers, whose primary role is personal security. It’s highly unlikely that a meeting such as this will produce disastrous results, like you might see in a movie with everyone being fucking slaughtered, but it always pays to be cautious.
“I want two soldiers stationed with Piper,” I say, nodding to the men several rows back. “And Carlos, you’ll keep one and wait outside the meeting room with the other Boss’ men to keep an eye on things. I trust your judgment enough that if anything smells off, you’ll spot it.”
“Johnathon Bedacholli has insisted the security of everyone in our party is guaranteed by Aiden Doyle himself,” Lorenzo says, interrupting my thought process. “Of course, trust is earned, but from what I’ve been able to glean, I believe Mr. Doyle has already made up his mind to back our request.”
“You believe, or you know?” I snap, irritated that his diplomatic demeanor doesn’t align as well with my brash approach as I originally thought. “Because that can be the difference between life and death.”
“Dante,” he says, and it almost sounds like an admonishment. “Son, I’ve been working very hard and very closely with top men in each organization to set up this meeting. I’ve stated our reasons and intentions clearly. At this point, I can assure you full support from everyone except Vegas. Boston and Seattle both see this meeting as a formality and nothing more.”
“Why is Vegas resisting, then?” I ask, still skeptical but wanting to trust his judgement. I should trust his judgement. I chose him for this position because I fucking knew I could count on him to offer wise advice.
Taking it is another matter entirely.
“My best guess is they share a common enterprise with Miami.” He lifts a brow as he waits for me to figure it out. When I do, he smiles knowingly. “Now you see why they might be opposed? What’s to stop us from going after them next, citing our distaste for one of their money-making channels?”
“Maybe we will,” I muse, disgusted that any organization would make a living off the backs of stolen children.
“One thing at a time, Boss,” he says, closing his folder and handing it over. “I know Piper’s safety is paramount for you, and I promise it has been addressed. Aiden Doyle’s wife was kidnapped five months ago by his own brother, so he understands your concern and has vowed to protect her with all the power of his organization.”
“Is the motherfucker dead?” I ask, lifting a brow in both shock and seriousness. If the rogue brother isn’t dead, then I can’t trust Aiden Doyle with shit.
“Very,” Lorenzo supplies.
“The soldiers will still stand as her guards,” I reply, my voice hard.
“I never expected anything else,” Lorenzo says, smirking.
The plane touches down not long after we’re done, and as arranged, several SUVs are already awaiting us near the runway. I quickly lead Piper from the plane and toward one of them, until a voice calls my name.
I pause momentarily and turn toward a tall, dark-haired man. “Mr. Simone,” he says, holding out his hand. “My name is Johnathon Bedacholli, and Killa sent me to escort you to your overnight accommodations.”
I look from his still untouched hand to his eyes. “My men are capable of navigating to an address.” I turn away, ready to pick up Piper and run her in the other direction. Unfamiliar faces make me wary as fuck.
“Molto bene, farò in modo di arrivare in sicurezza,” he replies, telling me he’ll make sure we arrive safely.
I pause and glance back at him, the Italian somehow comforting. “Grazie.”
Lorenzo greets Johnathon like an old friend, which feels fucking strange, but I suppose there is familiarity there, as they’ve been in steady contact over the past week and a half. The name Bedacholli is notorious, as Billy “The Butcher” Bedacholli is the retired Boss of the New York Italian Mob. He initiated the merger with the Irish, or more specifically the Doyles of Boston, by agreeing to an arranged marriage between his daughter and Aiden Doyle, who’s now the sole
