“You just said you thought the Rizzos were suspects,” Lazaro points out.
“I said itstinks. But we don’t know who’s behind all this trouble until we unmask them. All we need is one of them. We’ll get him to talk.”
Yes, we will.
I lean back in my chair, propping an ankle across my knee. “We don’t tell the others. The fewer people who know about this plan, the better.” I’m extremely curious to see who shows up once this trap is set. Once we’ve caught one of them, we can also uncover this fucking rat.
We spend another hour going over our options, until we come up with a solid plan. Fucking finally.
The afternoon sun blazes down as Julius and Lazaro disembark. I watch them drive away while a server clears the table.
The summer days are getting longer and more humid. But a nice, easy breeze rolls in from the ocean. Night is actually the best time to be out here. That will be my next date with my wife. She hasn’t been on my yacht yet. We could take a trip along thecoastline—or anywhere in the world. I daydream about setting sail with her.
Maybe after all this crap is?—
“Get down!” One of the guards shouts, jolting me out of my fantasies. As my chest hits the deck, he’s already drawing his gun. A speedboat zooms past us, opening fire on my boat.
The server screams, and I shove her to the floor as I crouch back down and grab my own gun.
What in the actual fuck?Are they really attacking us in broad daylight?
A high-pitched engine roars closer as they come back for another pass. This time, we return fire. The pistol jerks in my hands as I try to get a look at the two figures in the speedboat. One’s steering while the other unleashes a semi-automatic on us.
They’re both wearing balaclavas.Cowards.
Suspicion gnaws at me as I shoot back. Don Rizzo has two sons: Falco and Gabriele. But I immediately shut down that thought. It can’t be them. Can it?
Then another kind of paranoia strikes me. Why is this attack happening now? Right after Lazaro and Julius have left? Wouldn’t it make more sense to take all three of us out at once?
Unless… Which one of them is behind this? Or is it a coincidence that they’ve already left?
One of my bullets nicks the driver. That’s enough to deter them. Instead of coming around again, they speed out of the marina. Even if our engines were already fired up, there’s not a chance we could catch the smaller, much faster boat.
Cazzo.
“Boss, you’re bleeding.” One of my soldiers points out.
Brow furrowed, because I don’t feel a damn thing, I glance down. Sure enough, crimson coats one side of my shirt. Tearing it open, I find a bullet grazed across my ribs.Merda!
“I’m fine,” I murmur. “Get this place cleaned up. Call our contact with the police and let’s keep this as quiet as possible.”
“Yes, sir.”
Holstering my gun, I grab my suit jacket and text Vincent to come pick me up. Home is the safest place for me right now, and I have work to do. I’m going to get to the bottom of this. Right. Fucking. Now.
CHAPTER 37
Elena
I’m lounging on the couch, working on my book in leggings and a loose T-shirt, when the elevator door slides open. A smile blossoms across my face as I hear Maximo’s heavy, measured footsteps on the marble floor. When he comes into view, my jaw drops. Sheer, biting horror and panic rush through me. He’s covered in blood.
“What happened?” I’m off the sofa in an instant, going to him.
He glances at my stricken expression, then down at his side. “Got shot.”
“Got shot?” I shriek. “How can you be so calm about this? Oh no, are you in shock? Come here. Lie down before you pass out.” I gently take his arm and lead him to the couch.
He huffs a soft chuckle. “I’m not in shock. It’s just a graze, that’s all.”
