“How did they know?” I ask, though I’m already dreading the answer.
Her expression hardens, those famous DeLuca eyes turning to ice chips. “Someone talked. Had to be. The timing was too perfect, the targeting too precise.” She turns back to her displays, pointing at enemy positions marked in red. “But whoever gave them information didn’t know everything, because our contingency plans are working.”
She’s right. Despite the surprise attack, despite being outnumbered, the DeLuca forces are holding their ground andeven beginning to push back in several locations. The Calabreses expected quick victory against demoralized defenders.
Instead they’re facing coordinated resistance that’s making them pay for every foot of ground.
“What do you need from me?” I ask, studying the situation and already identifying where my teams can have the most impact.
“I’m so glad you asked,” Bianca pushes hair off her neck. “Your people are perfect for breaking their assault on the east wing.” She highlights specific positions on her tablet. “Matteo’s been holding them off, but he’s taking casualties. If you can hit them from the rear while he pushes from the front…”
“I got you,” I tell her. “What about the Irish position?”
“Siobhan’s people areamazing,” Bianca says with genuine admiration. “They’ve turned their stronghold into a fortress and they’re making the Calabreses bleed for every room.” She shakes her head. “I need to visit Boston when this is all set and done and learn a few more things from her.”
Dear Lord. Would Boston even bestandingafterward?
“But they’re running low on ammunition and medical supplies,” Bianca continues, biting her lip as she thinks this through. “It’s getting rough.”
I consider the logistics quickly. “I can get a supply run through to them if we time it right,” I offer. “My people know those streets better than the Calabreses do.”
Her face clears. “Do it,” she agrees immediately. “And Alessandro?” She catches my arm as I turn to go. “Be careful. Dominic’s not just trying to win this battle—he’s trying toeliminate every person who could threaten him in the future. You’re definitely on that list.”
I lace our fingers together and bring them to my mouth. “You too,” I tell her seriously, pressing her hand against my cheek. “This whole attack is probably designed to draw you out of defensive positions where you can be targeted specifically.”
“I know,” she replies with a smirk that belies the seriousness of our situation. “That’s why I’m about to give himexactlywhat he wants.”
Before I can ask what she means, alarms start blaring and her attention shifts back to the displays. New red markers are appearing faster than I can count them.
What the fuck are those?
“What the hell—” I start, then see what’s happening.
A third wave of attackers is moving in from the south. Not Calabreses this time—the tactical signatures are all wrong. These are moving toward positions that would allow them to cut off our escape routes.
“Who are they?” I demand, feeling sweat trickle down my back. Any good feeling I had has quickly evaporated.
Bianca’s face has gone pale as she studies the incoming intel. “I don’t know,” she admits, and for the first time tonight I hear uncertainty in her voice. “But whoever they are, they’re not here to help us.”
The night sky erupts with fresh explosions as the new attackers announce their presence with rocket-propelled grenades that tear through our outer defenses like paper. The building shakes around us and Bianca curses, blood draining from her face.
We’re not just under attack anymore.
We’re surrounded.
“Alessandro,” Bianca’s voice cuts through the chaos, and when I look at her, there’s something in her face that makes the hairs on my arm stand up. “I think Dominic just revealed his real plan.”
“Which is?” I ask warily.
“This was never about beating us in a fair fight,” she says, watching as our defensive positions are overwhelmed by superior numbers and firepower. “This was about trapping us all in one place where someone else could finish us.”
Fuck me. She’s right. The Calabrese attack wasn’t the main event—it was thesetup. While we were focused on fighting Dominic’s people, the real threat was moving into position to destroy everyone involved in this war.
“How long do we have?” I ask, though the answer I have in my head scares me.
Bianca studies her displays, her face giving away nothing. When she looks up at me, her blue-gray eyes are bright with fury and resolve.
“Long enough,” she says simply. “Long enough to show them exactly why you don’t corner a DeLuca.”
