"Agreed. But we do this smart." I grabbed my phone and scrolled through my contacts. "Pack. I'll make some calls, get us on a flight tonight. But first, I need to handle something."
"Handle what?"
"Insurance." I found the number I wanted and hit dial. "Go pack. I'll explain in a minute."
She hesitated, then nodded and disappeared into the bedroom. The phone rang twice before a familiar voice answered.
"Dez Moretti. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Beniamino," I said. "We need to talk about your uncle."
There was a pause. Beniamino DeLuca ran the Florida operations for his family—technically making him my rival in some areas, but we'd always had an understanding. Respect between professionals. Then there was the fact that I liked to kick his ass in anything he challenged me to. We were competitive friends that way. And he was Vincent DeLuca's nephew. His father's brother's son. Family, technically, though I knew there was no love lost there.
"What has Vincent done now?" Beni asked, his voice carefully neutral.
"He's attempting to stage a corporate coup against my wife. Fabricated evidence of embezzlement and mismanagement, called an emergency board meeting to have her removed as CEO of her own company." I kept my tone professional. "I wanted to give you a courtesy call before I deal with it."
"Deal with it how?"
"However necessary." I watched Angelina through the bedroom doorway, throwing clothes into a suitcase with furious efficiency. "Your uncle violated our treaty, Beni. He was warned that touching Angelina meant touching the Morettis. He chose to do it anyway."
"You're asking permission?"
"I'm informing you. There's a difference." I paused. "But I also want to know where you stand. If I handle Vincent, will the DeLucas consider it a breach?"
Beni was quiet for a long moment.
"Vincent DeLuca is a creepy fuck," he said finally. "Always has been. My father never trusted him. And me? I've spent years cleaning up his messes and covering for his mistakes because he's family."
"But?"
"But he crossed a line with your wife. And the treaty between our families is worth more than one ambitious middle-manager who can't accept that he lost." I heard the sound of a drink being poured. "Do what you need to do, Dez. Handle your business. The DeLucas won't retaliate. I can talk to the Vitales for you. I know he's been making trouble for them, too."
Relief flooded through me. "You're sure?"
"Positive. Years ago, my father gave me authorization to cut Vincent loose if he became a liability. This qualifies." Beni took a drink. "Besides, he was warned. You made it clear what wouldhappen if he came after her. He made his choice. Consider him cut off."
"Appreciated, Beni."
"Just do me one favor, keep my name put of it and stay the fuck out of Florida. I don't need complications down here."
"It'll be handled properly."
"Good." Another pause. "And Dez? Congratulations on the wedding. I heard it was beautiful. My wife went into labor, so I couldn't make it. We did send a gift."
"It was. Thank you. We didn't make it through all the gifts yet, but I'll let you know when we do. Trust me, she tried to conquer that mountain, but plenty of people were very generous."
"Take care of your wife. She sounds like she's worth the trouble."
"She is." I watched Angelina emerge from the bedroom with our packed bags. "More than worth it."
I hung up and immediately made another call, this one to my head of security.
"Sir?" Matvey answered on the first ring.
"We're coming back early. Tonight. I need a flight out of Santorini within three hours if possible." I rattled off details while Angelina listened. "And I need a full security detail ready to go when we land. We're going straight to Castellano & Co. for a board meeting tomorrow afternoon."
"Understood. I'll have everything ready."
