The night breeze causes a stray piece of long bang to catch in the softness of her naturally brown lashes.I push it away and tuck it behind her ear, leaning in close and whispering where no one else can hear.I owe her something for everything that’s happened tonight, even if I don’t have time to tell her everything.“I’ll explain everything to you later, kitten.Everything has happened for a reason, and I will tell you when I can.I love you, Sophia.”
A tear falls from her eyes and her lip trembles.She nods, and squeezes my hand, reassuring me that even though things between us are far from okay right now, I can make it right.I will make it right, because I won’t let her go.
No matter where this war takes us, Sophia Cassone, my wife, is mine.And it may just mean that I’m going to have to learn how to allow her to be physically by my side in situations like this and not protected in an ivory tower waiting for me to come home.And that right there is the problem, because having her sitting beside me gives me a handicap.I can’t be doing the things that I need to do if I’m protecting her and worried about the woman by my side.
“Take her in the house,” I tell the guard, not expecting the little hellcat’s reaction.
6
Sophia
The guard goes to reach for my arm, and I pull away.“No disrespect but I’m not going with you.”I turn to Massimo.“We both have family to save.I’m going whether you like it or not.I can go with you now, or find another way, and we both know that no one stops a Cassone.”
His jaw locks tight and a twinge of conscience hits me knowing I’m making him worry, causing him grief when he should be focusing on his mom, but it’s my sister and father who are missing too.I instinctively walk farther from him, leaving him no choice as I head to the car.This time, he doesn’t stop me, and by the time I’ve reached the vehicle, he’s right beside me.
Massimo holds the back door open for me and gestures for Delz to get in the front seat with Jimmy who’s giving him the glare from hell.Luckily Delz can hold his own with most people, but most people didn’t almost kill him and the family he was guarding in an attack on the Cassone property.
I tap Delz on the shoulder and he turns in his seat to face me.“What do you know about Anna?”How long has she been gone from the estate?She has to be due by now.”
The look on his face is one of utter confusion, but he tries to play it off only I’m pretty good at reading expressions.“Tell me what’s going on.”
He glances at Massimo and Massimo gives him a nod.“Tell her.”
Now my blood is racing.Anna has to be okay.I’ll never forgive my father for putting us in this situation if he’s gotten Anna or my little niece or nephew hurt in any way.Papa and her asshole fiancé Barcelo.I can barely believe this is really happening at all.
Delz runs a hand over his scruff.“I’m not sure what Anna told you, or why, but she’s not pregnant, Sophia.At least she wasn’t when she went underground with Barcelo.He went first and called for her.She insisted on being taken to where he is staying, and your father ordered her to be taken to him.As far as we know, she’s where she wants to be, Sophia.”
I gasp.“Delz, you let her go?”I cry.
The look he gives me is one of regret.“It seemed like she wanted to go, Sophia.”Massimo takes my hand, running a finger along the top of my palm.“Sophia, we’ll learn more shortly.”
I immediately feel remorse.He doesn’t need to say the words.Delz works for them, or at least did, there’s no way he’s in a position to disobey a direct order from the don of the Cassones without catching a bullet in the head the minute the refusal leaves his lips, but still, the thought of her alone with that man knowing what I do now sends a chill of fear snaking down the length of my spine.
Delz shifts in his seat.“My job was to keep her safe during transport.I’m sure that’s where they’re staying now though.Everyone ready to go?”
Massimo nods.“We’re waiting for Leandro and the boys.Sophia, we think your sister is being held by Barcelo, and possibly your father.It’s possible the sadistic fuck has my Mom, Anna, and your father in the same place.We’re not sure if they are there on their own accord or being held under duress, but we’re going to fucking find out right now.”Leandro pulls up in his sports car and races over to us, sliding in the back seat by Massimo.
Leandro puts a mag on his gun before sliding it into the holster of his belt and putting his seatbelt on.“Let’s roll, Jimmy.Enrico and Mario will stay on our tail, slow down when you get to the bend.Let one of our SUVs get in front of you.I’ll keep them apprised on where we’re going,” Leandro says.“And the rest of the crew won’t be far behind.”
Delz gives Jimmy directions and Leandro types out instruction to the others as we drive around the Jersey shore, into the back roads and far out toward the old, abandoned docks.My eyes squint watching through the front windshield as drizzle mixed with sleet come down like sheets against the window.
The lights from the SUV ahead of us guide our way as it slows to a crawl, inching forward little by little through the muddy road, passing old metal buildings in the darkness.“I didn’t think we used the old warehouse anymore, Delz.”Suddenly that same heightened awareness that pricks my skin, the one that Delz himself taught me to lean into whenever it happened, to trust as my body’s self-preservation, kicks in.
I squeeze Massimo’s hand and give him wide eyes, squeezing his hand tight again and again.Something’s not right.
But he rubs the palm of my hand, not understanding.Trying to calm me when I want to warn him but not with the potential enemy in the front seat, who can hear every word I say.But the overwhelming feeling of being led into a trap is suffocating me, causing my heart to race with a fight or flight response and this Cassone plans to fight.“It’s a trap, Massimo.We haven’t used these for years.They’re going to have men waiting for us!”
Delz turns and fucking smiles at Jimmy.A huge grin that almost causes my heart to stop.“What did I tell you?She’s the smartest Cassone.When her instincts kick in, you better watch your fucking ass.Especially if she’s got a weapon because she’ll put you on the ground before you have time to blink.I know, as little as she is, she’s put me on the ground many a fucking time.”
Massimo slides an arm around me and pulls me close.“Jimmy was given a job.He had to make sure everyone in our circle was loyal.I’ll explain everything later,” he whispers as Jimmy takes a turn and heads to another dock father down the road.My throat burns like acid though.He doesn’t need to tell me shit, I already know.It was a test, to see where my loyalties stood.I just wonder whose test it was and my guess would be on Jimmy or Leandro, but the thought that Massimo may have been involved or didn’t at least stop it causes my heart to hurt.He doesn’t even trust me now, after all we’ve been through.
Massimo is busy giving orders though and I have to focus on what we’re here to do and not on emotions that I can’t do anything about.“Have the guys slow down.Wait until we hear the helicopters and then go in quietly,” he says.“According to Delz they’re in the last one, but they may be downstairs.We may need to flush them out with the helicopters so be careful with the gas.Mother and Anna come out alive.”
My voice comes out sounding cracked.“My father?”
Massimo’s dark eyes meet mine.“We try to bring your father out alive too, but not at the risk of Anna or my mother.”
My chest tightens and blood races as my mind tries to process everything that’s happening, trying to pull all the pieces together as quickly as I can.It’s the only explanation but my mind firmly tries to reject the idea that Delz is a traitor to the Cassones.It just can’t be.He’s been with the Cassones for years.But yet, it’s the only thing that makes sense.
