“I just wanted to warn you so you wouldn't fall into his trap. Don't die for me.”
My father came down the hall, saving me from coming up with a response.
“Is she on the phone? Give it to me.”
Handing over my phone, I listened to his half of the conversation, wishing I’d put it on speakerphone first.
“Listen,cara mio, tell me where you are.”
I wanted to do something. I needed to take action, not stand around and wait. But Dad had my phone, and no one else was there. I couldn't simply order someone to go get her, not that I was even sure that was the right thing to do.
“I understand. Take care of yourself, and stick to texting from now on.”
Giving me my phone, Dad put his hand on my back to steer me out the side doors. Roman Barrett and John Brennan stood just outside, and a black SUV pulled up to the curb behind them.
“We know he’ll make his demands soon enough. The tail we had on him was found with a bullet in the back of the head a few minutes ago.”
Twisting further, my stomach threatened to revolt as we climbed into the vehicle together. It was only recently that I’d begun to eat more normally, but I suddenly regretted it.
“Lombardi was successfully taken out just a short while ago,” he continued.
“So only Matteo deviated from the day’s plans.”
“Looks like it,” he said as we sped away from the wedding reception. “Almost as if he knew we’d planned to retaliate today.”
“There’s little way of finding Sailor before he wants us to, unless you happen to know where his compound is.”
Dad shook his head, holding onto the door handle as we took a corner too sharply. “He’ll set up a swap location away from his house. Most likely, she won’t even be there.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.” I rubbed my palms on my pants. “She told me not to do it.”
“Not to meet with him?” he clarified. “She told me the same.”
“But we have to.” Clearing my throat, I added, “Because she’s not involved with us. She’s innocent.”
“Is that why?” he said with amusement.
I glared at him. “Do you have something to say, old man?”
“You should have seen how pale you got when you told me Sailor contacted you.”
“We’re not doing this dance until this is settled. Matteo Franco needs to die today, no exceptions.”
As the vehicle straightened out, he turned to look at me. “Oh, I agree. But how we’ll manage to do it is the problem.”
“Can the Russos help? They’ve been our friends lately.”
“I can always call Leo and see what he’s willing to do for us.”
It felt like a long shot, but it was all we had. Dad picked up his phone, dialing while I stared out my window. We were heading to the warehouse district to meet with some of our other men, hoping that was the area Matteo was headed to and we’d find him there. In the meantime, I was hoping someone could come up with a brilliant strategy.
Since I’d turned my sound back on, my phone went off, and I glanced down at it.
Matteo said he set up my father because he wanted to take over, and Dad wouldn't even acknowledge him in his organization. He was the violent one, not Carmine.
Dropping my head into my hands, I massaged my temples as I stared at her words. So I’d done it all for nothing. People had died, she’d been orphaned, and it was the actions of a crazy man that set those plans in motion.
“Leo said he can have snipers set up wherever Matteo asks us to meet. Also, he’s going to ask that fence jumper of his if they know where the asshole lives.”
