His voice cracks at the mention of Patrick, and he takes a moment to compose himself. “I killed my own uncle the night of the fucking party, but I was forbidden from killing Roger by Da and The Butcher. So I waited for years, until the day after my wedding, when I became Boss. No one could tell me how to run my fucking family, and I killed that motherfucker. I wasn’t going to ask anyone for fucking permission, and I won’t apologize for it. He killed someone who was like a father to me, and he deserved to fucking pay for it. Pat was ten times the man Roger Kent ever was, and I’d kill that motherfucker a thousand times if I could.”
The fucking plot thickens.
“I remember hearing about the ambush when it happened,” Eros Caruso says, glancing to Ernesto, who nods along. “But we didn’t realize it was an outside job. Our intel led us to believe it was a squabble among family members and nothing more.”
Eli digs his fingers into his deep eye sockets. “More repercussions, I see,” he says, his lips tightly pursed. “Roger always did think he was untouchable.” He wheezes a tired sigh. “I move to overlook his death and return to the matter at hand.”
Stupid fucking Sasha loses it then, grabbing his grandfather’s oxygen tube and pinching it closed, his voice hysterical. “What are you doing? He just admitted to breaking our rules without remorse, and you just—”
He’s cut off by the door as it bursts open hard enough to slam into the wall, and a goon is shoved into the room with a barrel pressed to his head. Carlos stands behind the guy with his arm outstretched, and further behind him is one of Aiden’s men with his gun aimed at a second guy, while the rest of the guards huddle behind them.
I stand, pulling my weapon, immediately on guard. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Ivan,” Carlos says, holding his phone in his outstretched hand. “He’s been calling both you and Lorenzo nonstop before he gave up and called me.”
As I walk over to take the phone, the sounds around me fade into the distance. I barely hear the squabble break out between Aiden and Sasha, as it’s apparently the Vegas men who were stupid enough to stand in Carlos’ way. Everything feels far away, like it isn’t happening in the same fucking room, as I anticipate the reason for this urgent call.
My hand feels like it belongs to someone else as I grip the phone and bring it to my ear. “Ivan,” I mutter, preparing for the worst, but there’s fucking no way to truly be prepared.
My brother’s hysterical, half crying, half screaming as he tries to relay the news. It’s my job to comfort and assure, but I’m incapable, as all I’m able to do is thank whoever’s in charge of this fucked up life that it isn’t me in his position. That I’m not the one who’s girl has been taken.
“I chipped her, Dante,” he says, frantic. “I knew something like this was going to happen. She knew too; she begged m—”:
“What?” I bark, interrupting him as his words help me get my shit together. “You have a trace on her location?”
“Yes, that’s what I’m trying to tell you!” he shouts, overeager now, his moods swinging violently. “I have a plane sitting on the runway.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose and breathe deeply. “Ivan, I need you to listen to me. Get on that plane and come to Boston. I’ll meet you on the runway.”
“No way, Dante,” he yells, freaking out again. “You’re not leaving me behind!”
“Shhh,” I soothe, hoping to talk him down. “I’m not leaving you. I’m going to meet you with supplies, and we’re going to leave together. I promise, Ivan. I know you have it in you when it comes to her. Matteo and Angelo will meet you at the airport.” I snap my fingers toward Carlos so he can get on that. “Have Sergio and Cary join you, and leave Riley in charge of the buildings. Can you do that for me?”
“Sergio’s dead,” he says, his tone solemn. “He didn’t make it through the attack.”
“Jesus,” I say, clawing at my hair.
“All six of the guards on my floor were executed and another four at the back entrance had snapped necks,” he adds, his voice rising in pitch. “I should’ve been here with her. I could’ve stopped them!”
“No!” I bark, angry he’s thinking that way. “You’d just be another body among the dead.” I pause and breathe a couple times to get my imagination under control, to stop myself from picturing him lifeless and covered in blood. “You’re alive, Van, and that’s their most crucial mistake. We will get her back.”
“I hope you’re right.” His voice is small and scared, and it only intensifies my rage.
I talk to him as if he’s a child, coaching him through the motions until he’s safely in the car with Cary and on the way to the small private air strip. As soon as I hang up, Carlos is by my side and confirming that Matteo and Angelo will be waiting for them. I nod once, turning away from him and back to the men at the table.
“This meeting is adjourned,” I say, opening my briefcase and shoving the unused stack of papers inside. As I slam it closed and grab the handle, I add, “Miami has crossed a fucking line by taking my brother’s girlfriend. My retaliation needs no
