Matteo walks back into the meeting at the right time, a coffee in his hands and a look of amusement on his face. He just leans against the wall, while around us, the meeting dissolves into a fucking circus and only gets stopped when Vitale’s other guards come from outside to see what the issue is.
The tensions don’t stop when they arrive, but people see it as an excuse. All around the table, people signal they’re done before leaving without the proper protocol. Vitale’s phone will be running hot tonight with apologies. He’ll blame everyone else, but the fact remains, as head of the Gambrillo Family, he is ultimately responsible for this farce.
The room is practically empty when Dante returns. He starts laughing as soon as he sees. With a last look around, he speaks. “We should take a drive and make sure Vitale gets home safe.”
He waits until we’re in the car and traveling in the opposite direction of Vitale’s estate before saying more. Honestly, it would be a dream come true if someone attacked his home right now, which is why we’re going home. Dante only alluded to us checking of Vitale incase other people were listening. It would have been dangerous to not appear to be thinking of Vitale’s safety, but now… I hoped he was being attacked. It would save us time and effort.
“There are too many vehicles on the security register,” he says. “Leon has been working at Vitale’s estate for the day. I’ll get him to send over the records of who’s been visiting to keep you in the loop.”
“Get Legos over there and anyone else we can spare. Hopefully we mitigate any surprises before they become an issue,” Matteo answers, also pulling up the feed from home.
Layne’s watching a movie with Bella and Edward, looking sleepy and relaxed.
Dante’s eyes are on the screen when he speaks. “Legos and Leon will hide extra weapons around the place for tomorrow, if they can, but as soon as the doors open and she starts walking our way, we act.”
“The wait staff are all ours, same with most of the bar staff.” Matteo runs over the plans we have spent a long time preparing.
“Tonight, we’ve got our cleaning crew working side by side with Vitale’s, and Ahmed and his team will be close by but not on-site. As a last resort,” I remind everyone unnecessarily, before swinging a look at my brother. “Who called?”
“One of our contacts at the airport said they’ve received a couple of strange requests for tomorrow. A smaller charter to come in before the event and a late-afternoon booking. Thebooking checks out. The other I’ve asked for more information on, which hopefully comes through.”
Matteo interjects, “But the reality is, we’re more likely to be dealing with a helicopter landing than an aircraft.”
“True,” I mumble before reaching over to Dante’s phone and calling Layne while I pull up the video feed to watch her reaction.
“Hey.” As her voice floats through the car, there’s an obvious drop of residual aggression the three of us have been harboring since our meeting with Vitale.
“What are you up to?” Dante asks.
Layne smiles before answering. “Movie time.”
“How about you pause that movie? We’re coming home, Mrs. De Luca, to pick you up. We have an appointment we can’t miss.”
“What? Who?” she asks, sitting up.
Dante growls under his breath. “Let us have one surprise for you. Since you know nearly all our other secrets.”
“Doubtful,” she bites back teasingly before stretching on the couch. The motion pulls up her top, nice and high.
“Do that again,” I demand impatiently. “But, this time, show off more skin.”
“Wait.” She stops mid motion, her gaze flying around the room. She won’t find the cameras, and none of us will tell her; it would spoil the fun for later.
“Layne, we’ll be there in about twenty minutes to pick you up,” Matteo interrupts, reaching through the gap to cut the call as soon as he finishes speaking.
We all watch her confusion while trying to find the camera before she talks to the dogs again, pauses her movie, and goes to get changed. Seeing her in our home, it’s hard to remember a time she wasn’t there.
“We just need to get through tomorrow.” It’s not really a conversation starter, it’s me talking out loud.
We spend the rest of the drive home working through a list of potential screwups that could derail our plans. Admittedly, there are a few, but the reward far outweighs the risk.
Dante and Matteo wait in the garage while I go up and get Layne for her surprise. The Omega specialty shop we are going to has a special allowance for pack visits, but we can’t be late.
It’s such a smart way of doing business, offering appointments, along with normal open hours. The way her scent and her presence messes with me makes it hard to imagine how I’d react if any other Alphas were in the same space at the same time as we were.
“Layne,” I call out as soon as the elevator doors opens. Edward is already there to see who is coming, and a second later, Bella appears, trotting in front of Layne.
“You were quicker than I thought.” She smiles. “Do I look okay? I wasn’t sure how to dress.”
