“Jesus, it’s a party,” I say as I sit facing Julian. “What’s going on?”
“The Italians have decided they want my shipments,” he says coldly. “They killed ten of my men at the port and have settled in to take over my receiving.”
“Fuck that,” Carson says.
“Exactly,” Mateo chimes in. “We’re killing them all tonight and sending their heads back to Salvatore Rizzo.”
“I hate that fucker,” I mutter, shaking my head. “He tried to buy a membership to the club.”
Julian’s eyes narrow. “When?”
“Last year. What he didn’t know is that every applicationis run by me first. He didn’t try to hide his identity. Piece of shit.”
“He’s about to lose half of his men tonight,” Mateo growls. “And it will be my pleasure.”
We’rein four different black SUVs. We never ride with more than two of us in each car, just in case it gets taken out. That way, all four of us don’t go out at once.
I’ve done it this way for a decade.
Before we reach the port, I check the video feed on my phone. It’s after two in the morning, and my firefly is halfway through her shift. She’s still smiling, bustling about behind the bar. She looks relaxed and like she’s having fun.
She’s safe.
That’s the most important thing. We left Bruno behind to follow her back to her motel in case I’m not back in time to do it myself.
I pocket the device just as Luke pulls up behind Julian’s car about a hundred yards from the port.
We’ll walk in from here and catch them by surprise.
“There’s a rooftop here,” Julian says, pointing at a map of the area, “where I think Rome should snipe from.”
“You don’t want me on the ground?” I ask him.
“I want your eyes in the sky,” he replies as he puts hisearpiece in. We all follow suit. “I think twenty of Rizzo’s men are in and around the building.”
“There are twelve of us,” Mateo reminds him. “I fucking like those odds.”
“And we’re hitting them unaware,” Carson says, cracking his knuckles. “It’ll be quick.”
Julian turns the page and shows us the building’s blueprints. Thanking fuck I brought my rifle, I break off from the others to climb a series of fire escapes up the abandoned building.
Won’t lie. I would have liked to get my hands on some of the Italian fuckers tonight, but taking out more as a sniper will also satisfy my need to take revenge for Julian’s men.
Who the fuck do they think they are, trying to take Julian’s run?
I slow my steps, sure to stay perfectly quiet as I walk up to the motherfucker already on top of the building. He must see my guys come into view because he raises his rifle, but I pull my knife, jerk his head back, and slice him open from ear to ear.
He gurgles as he falls, and I scowl at the blood that spurted onto my shirt.
I hate getting dirty.
With a shrug, I assume his last position and lift my rifle.
“In position,” I murmur so the others can hear. “One down.”
“We’re a go,” Julian says, and then all hell breaks loose below, sending adrenaline through my veins.
As the Italians scatter, I take aim.
