After the 737 was safely in the air, gliding at my touch and basically flying herself, I gave Beni orders to get in touch with Malum and tell them to expect our arrival. If not, they might shoot us down.
“Malum,” Beni repeated.
“Malum,” I confirmed.
He did as he was ordered to, and after we got approval, he turned toward me.
“I rarely question orders,cugino, but why are we taking women with us to such a place? Myculodoes not even feel safe!”
I believed everyone needed a Beniamino in their lives. He never meant to be, but even when the world seemed the darkest, he was the comedic relief to ease the tension. He had an expressive face, more expressive than most, and he could make his eyes bug out, purposely or not.
I squeezed his shoulder. “I will take care of Ava.”
“The stewardesses?”
“Will stay on the plane with you.”
I hadn’t decided whether to take Ava or not. Keeping her on the plane or taking her with me—both scenarios made me uneasy for different reasons. I could not keep an eye on her if she was left behind, but bringing her inside might get us both killed.
Beni closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Why is she—Ava—here?”
I was going to need his help, and I decided to trust him with the truth. We were cousins, but in all the years we had become friends, he had earned his place in my life. We served in the military together, and he was my co-pilot on all flights after. We had been through it all.
He sat quietly as I explained everything that had happened. I left my attraction to her out on purpose. I fed it some, but I refused to give it substantial credit, and speaking it out loud might give it credence.
“If you do not reach Leandro in time, it might not only be his life on the line.”
We let that statement hang in the air between us. Beni was right. IfZioLuca connected the attack on the bridge to our faction, then Leandro hired someone from Malum to try to assassinate him, he might destroy all of us. Malum had a detailed list of all visitors, including only approved flights in and out. The Boeing 737 would even be swept when we arrived to make sure all passengers we claimed were on the flight, and we were not attempting to smuggle extra bodies in.
If Leandro had a man on the inside—he had no doubt either earned himself a spot in the prison or a grave. No one ever had a man on the inside. It was always a trap.
“I have to stop him before he does irreversible damage,” I said.
Beni understood how dangerous the situation was and nodded. “What if Luca requests fealty from you?”
That was something to fucking consider. The only men who gave fealty were the king’s consigliere, or men who were from a different faction of the family who decided to serve underneath a different one. Vincenzo and his brother, Guido, for instance. Their father was proud to have them serve such a powerful faction.
For the sons of a son of Marzio, though, it was never expected of us to pledge an oath to anyone other than our fathers. Unless there was anarchy and our faction’s loyalty was questioned.
A coup, such as the one on the bridge, and this subterfuge by my brother…I would have to make the decision to pledge fealty to my uncle and break free from my family’s faction, or I’d be held accountable for my faction’s actions.
“Fuck me,” I snapped.
I’d never seen eye to eye with Leandro, and this was only going to put more space between us. We might end up in a battle like our father andZioLuca. Leandro was the perfect child of my mother and father—he allowed his thirst for blood to rule him. Mine lurked below the surface, but I would not hesitate to do what was necessary if he challenged me.
A scent drifted past my nose, and my nostrils flared. I looked over my shoulder to find Ava standing on the precipice of stepping into my “office.”
Her eyes were lit up by all the lights, and I could not tell if it was her curiosity burning that deep or if it was only on the surface.
I forced my face to stay blank. She had taken a shower, her hair straight down her shoulders and her face fresh, and she was dressed in a cream off-the-shoulder top with a pair of matching flowing pants, and her scent…I was nothing but a wild animal scenting the air for a true mate.
My natural instincts woke from a long, dark slumber, and they were going to send me in whichever direction she went—feral with want and need.
“Hello,Capitano,” she said, grinning. “I see you’re hard at work making the friendly skies…friendlier.”
The teasing tone to her voice—it sent the guard around my heart up while lowering the one around my body. My cock was in control of that one.
“Who allowed you back here?” Beni scrunched up his face at her.
