But Marco was right. A direct assault got us all killed. Including Aria.
"Fine. We do it your way. But we leave now. Tonight. I'm not giving him another hour with her."
"Agreed. I'll rally the men. Get the Council authorization documents. We can be on the road in thirty minutes."
Thirty minutes later, we were loaded up. Me. Marco. Twenty men the Council had provided. All heavily armed. All aware this could turn into a bloodbath if my father decided to fight.
Father Benedetto had provided documentation. Official Council orders for Salvatore's arrest. Seals and signatures that carried absolute authority in our world.
It should be enough to make my father's men stand down. Should be but should and would were different things. And I wasn't betting Aria's life on should.
The drive to the compound took two hours. Two hours that felt like two years.
I sat in the passenger seat of the lead vehicle. Watched the city give way to suburbs give way to rural darkness. Each mile taking me closer to Aria but not fast enough. Never fast enough.
My arm throbbed. I'd stopped taking painkillers. Needed my head clear for what was coming. Needed every advantage I could get.
All I could think about was Aria. What she must be feeling right now. The terror. The helplessness. The fear that I wasn't coming. That she was alone.
I'm coming. Hold on. Just hold on a little longer.
The thought became a mantra. A prayer. A promise I'd keep or die trying.
Dawn was breaking when we arrived. Pink and orange streaking across the sky like the world was on fire.
The compound sat on ten acres of property two hours north of the city. My father's private retreat. Surrounded by twelve-foot stone walls topped with security cameras. Guard towers at each corner. Main gate reinforced steel.
A fortress, getting in would be hell. But I'd storm hell itself to get to Aria. Our convoy pulled up to the main gate. Three vehicles. Twenty-two men total counting me and Marco. Against however many guards my father had stationed here.
Bad odds. But I'd worked with worse.
I stepped out. Marco at my side. Father Benedetto emerged from the second vehicle, dressed in his priest collar and carrying the Council documentation.
Six guards stood at the gate armed and alert. Hands on weapons but not yet drawn.
The guard captain stepped forward. Tall. Built like he spent every waking hour in the gym. Scar across his left cheek.
"This is private property. State your business or leave."
"We're here under Council authority." Father Benedetto's voice carried weight. Authority. "Don Salvatore Accardi is under arrest for murder of Council Don Antonio Romano, conspiracy, and multiple treaty violations. We're here to take him into custody. Your men need to stand down immediately."
The guards exchanged looks. Uncertain looks. The Council's authority was absolute in our world. Going against them meant death or worse.
But the captain didn't back down. "I need to verify this with Don Salvatore before I can comply."
"There's nothing to verify." I stepped forward. "The Council has ruled. Salvatore is stripped of his title and authority. He's a criminal now. Not a don. And you're either going to standaside or be charged with obstruction of Council justice. Your choice. Make it fast."
More uncertainty. Guards on the wall shifting. Weapons lowering slightly but not completely.
Then the captain made his decision. "I take orders from Don Salvatore. Until he tells me otherwise, you're not coming through this gate."
"Wrong answer." I pulled out the Council documentation. Held it up. "This paper says your boss is no longer a don. Says he's under arrest. Says anyone who helps him faces the same charges. So unless you want to die for a man who's already fallen, I suggest you open that gate."
Other guards looking nervous. My men behind me ready to storm the gate if needed.
I was done negotiating.
"Look around." My voice went cold. Hard. "You've got six men at this gate. Maybe twenty more scattered around the compound. I've got twenty-two heavily armed men with Council authorization to use whatever force is necessary. So lower your weapons. Open this gate. And maybe you'll live to see tomorrow."
