“Mazzone,” I say, when I pick up my burner cell.
“Everything is in motion,” he replies.
“What percentage are loyal to you?” I inquire because we need the numbers.
“Approximately thirty percent.”
We can make that work. “Good. I’ll be in touch before Saturday.”
The line goes dead as he hangs up.
“Knock, knock,” Leo says, poking his head through the door.
“Come in.” I wasn’t expecting to see him until tomorrow, at the earliest, even if I know him to be a fast worker. “What’s the verdict?” I ask, pouring a scotch for him and a bourbon for me.
“They’re all clean. Ian was working alone. He lured everyone but the guards at the gate to the house with a fake report of men at the rear of the property. Once they were inside, he conveniently disappeared just as the gas was leaked into the system. He gave DeLuca’s men the access code to the gate, and they dispensed with the guards on duty before taking Ian and Sierra with them.”
We have already replaced the entire security system, changed all the codes, doubled the guards, and the new men protecting my property were all inserted with tracking devices. From now on, I’m making that a requirement for all my soldiers. If they don’t like it, they can get the fuck out of my organization.
The one thing I hate is knowing DeLuca is aware of my house now. I have gone to huge extremes over the years to keep the location a secret, and I want to throttle Ian for compromising my safe haven. There is nothing I can do about it now though, and come Saturday night, the secret should be protected again.
“You look like shit,” Leo says as I hand him his scotch.
“Saskia paid Sierra a visit,” I explain. “She thrust the engagement in her face and destroyed Sierra’s ring.” I lost my shit when I got that intel and trashed my office, before I composed myself and called the jeweler to design another ring.
“Sierra is shrewd. She will know you are planning something. She will trust you to come for her,” Leo reassures me.
I slump in my chair, swirling the bourbon in my glass before lifting it to my lips. “I hate imagining Sierra chained up in some disgusting dungeon thinking I’ve fucked her sister.”
Sympathy splashes over his face. “You haven’t touched the bitch. That’s what is most important, and you will get a chance to explain it to Sierra when we get her out.”
“Am I wrong to do this? We know where she is. I could storm in there and rescue her right now.” I lean forward, resting my head in my hands. “Iwantto storm in there and take her to safety. I don’t know if I can last another two days.” I want to bundle her into my arms and hold her close forever so no one can harm her again.
“I can’t begin to imagine what you are going through,” he says. “But youaredoing the right thing. This way we are eliminating the threat permanently. If you ride to the rescue now, you will have shown our hand, and it will mean bloody war. A war where Sierra and Rowan will be the prime targets. You know DeLuca would not let this rest. If you double-cross him, hewillgo for Sierra first.”
I lift my head, staring at my friend through tired bloodshot eyes. “I know, but it doesn’t make this any easier to bear.”
I had tried reasoning with DeLuca, proposing I marry Sierra as planned and I would do his bidding. That way, he would still get what he wants—a DeLuca-Mazzone alliance. At that point, he told me Sierra is not his flesh and blood. If there was time, I’d look into that claim, as I don’t trust he’s telling me the truth. But it’s minor in the grand scheme of things, and I have got to remain focused.
It seems neither Georgia or Serena are aware of Sierra’s kidnapping, and I’ve been told to keep it that way. Right now, I need to look like I’m playing the game so he doesn’t guess what I’m up to behind the scenes.
I’ve had to take extra precautions this week, to ensure our plotting remains hidden.
Now it’s set in motion, I’m itching to get it over and done with.
My normal cell vibrates with an incoming call, and I growl as I see Saskia’s name flashing on the screen. “She is driving me insane,” I mutter, rubbing a tense spot between my brows. She calls multiple times a day, spouting shit I have zero interest in. Her whiny voice grates on my nerves, and my jaw aches from holding back the things I want to say. Faking it is exhausting, but the end is in sight.
Leo doesn’t need me to elaborate to know who I’m talking about. “I can’t wait to see the look on her face when she finds out you’ve been acting the devoted fiancé and you really hate her guts.”
“Thank fuck, I got DeLuca to agree to no sex before marriage.” He didn’t want to agree, for a variety of reasons, but I told him that comforting Rowan and preparing him for his new reality was my priority, and he bought it. The truth is, DeLuca needs me, and we both know it. He might be holding Sierra over me, but if he pushes me too far, he could lose my allegiance and his big plan goes up in flames. I’m sure Saskia blew a gasket when he told her it was hands off before the wedding, but I couldn’t give a flying fuck what that conniving cunt thinks. She is going to get what is coming to her—they both are—and it can’t come soon enough.
Plucking my cell up, I slip my mask on as I press the accept button before I miss her call. Reminding myself of the end game, I use my usual seductive tone when speaking to my despicable fiancée. “Darling. How are the plans coming along for our engagement party?”
* * *
“The official photographer has been unavoidably delayed,” Alessandro whispers in my ear as I prepare to get into the limo on Saturday night. He smirks, and I can tell he enjoyed that little task.
“And the press photographers?” I inquire, buttoning the center button on my designer tux.
