“Such vile language,” Romano tuts. “Your lovely wife is alive,” Romano continues, the camera shifting back to show Gigi’s pale, pain-wracked face. “For now. But without proper medical attention, that gunshot wound will kill her, and what a painful death it will be.” His smile widens. “Unless you give me what I want.”
“Name it,” I snarl. He could ask for god himself and I would deliver him to Romano. “Anything. Just tell me what you want.”
“Justice,” Romano says simply. “For your crimes against my organization. For the disruption you’ve caused. For daring to threatenme.” The camera focuses on his face again. “You’ll come to me. Unarmedandlone. And you’ll face the consequences of your actions.”
“Where?” My hand grips the phone so hard I’m surprised the screen doesn’t crack. “Tell me where.”
“You’re a smart man, Luca. You’ll figure it out.” Romano’s smile is serpentine. “I have a doctor on hand to prevent your wife’s imminent death, but I believe you have only a few days before her condition becomes…irreversible. I suggest you hurry.”
The screen goes black.
I stand there in the emergency room, the phone still clutched in my hand. I’ve lost everything that matters.
Again.
Romano has Gigi. He’s had her this entire time, from the moment those fake doctors and nurses wheeled her through those doors. He planned this; the ambush, the shooting, even the “rescue.” All of it orchestrated to bring me to this exact moment.
Broken. Desperate. Willing to do anything to save her.
Danny’s voice seems to come from very far away. “Boss? Luca, what did he say? Where is she?”
I can’t answer. I can’t force words past the grief and rage and terror blocking my throat.
Because I know what Romano wants. He wants me to come alone, to walk into another trap, to sacrifice myself for her.
And I’ll do it. Without hesitation. Without question.
I’d burn the entire world down to save her.
Even knowing it’s probably already too late. Even knowing that this time, I might not be able to save anyone. Not her. Not myself.
I’ve lost everything again.
And this time, it’s entirely my fault.
25
LUCA
The phone shatters against the emergency room wall, exploding into pieces that scatter across the linoleum like shrapnel.
Romano has her.
The fake doctors, the fake nurses, the carefully orchestrated chaos—all of it designed to steal her right out from under me. While I stood here like an idiot waiting for updates that were never coming, she was being loaded into a car and driven to wherever the fuck he’s hiding.
“Boss,” Danny’s hand lands on my shoulder.
I shake him off violently. “Get everyone.Everyone. I want every man we have on the streets. I want eyes on every property Romano owns. I want?—”
“Luca, we need to think about this strategically.”
“Strategically?” I whirl on him, and whatever he sees in my face makes him step back. “There’s nothing to think about. Romano has Gigi. She’s bleeding out somewhere while we stand heretalking. So I’m going to find him, and I’m going to tear this entire fucking city apart until I do.”
“That’s exactly what he wants,” Danny tries to argue, but I’m beyond done listening to anyone.
“I don’tcarewhat he wants!” I roar, ignoring the panicked looks on others’ faces. “Call everyone. Now. Or get the fuck out of my way.”
Danny’s face tightens, but he pulls out his phone. “I’ll make the calls. But Luca, you need to calm down. You’re not thinking clearly.”
