“I won’t hesitate.”
“Dom.” I sighed. “Just think about it. If I were in your shoes, I’d hesitate.”
“I agree about Dom sitting out, but I’m not.” My brother crossed his arms. “I’m just as good a shot as you.”
“I didn’t say you weren’t, Michael. You could lose your job over this.”
“I’m more worried about losing my little brother.” He raised an eyebrow. “I’m doing it whether you want me to or not.”
“Fuuuuuck.” I ran my hands down my face.
“Dom, you should think about sitting out. Marchetti has a point.” Gio yawned again. “Let’s sleep on it and meet tomorrow morning.”
We ended the call and sat in silence.
“I don’t want you there.” I kept my eyes on my brother. “I invited you here because it’s Florida, and you had the right to know what happened to Mom, but I won’t risk your life or your job.”
“I’m not asking for your approval, Rocco.”
“I don’t even agree with this fucking plan.” I ran my hands down my face again as if it would change the fucked up reality I was living.
“You know this is the only way,” Dean said. “The smartest way.”
“If anything happens to her. . .” The words caught.
God, if anything happened to her, I’d fucking lose it. I stood up and walked out. I needed to do something. Hit something. Or someone. I didn’t trust myself to say anything else to them, and I sure as hell didn’t trust myself with Lenora right now, so I went to the small room we’d designated as our gym. The punching bag would do for now.
* * *
Lenora frowned.“Did you go for a run?”
“Punching bag.” I walked to the bathroom and switched on the shower. She followed and stood outside with her arms crossed, watching every move as I washed.
“What happened in the meeting?”
“There’s a plan but I don’t like it. I’m trying to think of another way.” I let my head hang for another moment before switching off the showerhead.
“What’s the plan?” She handed me the towel and took a step back. She looked like she’d been crying again.
I finished drying myself, got dressed, and pulled her to the bed with me.
“Rocco, you’re scaring me,” she whispered, setting her chin on my chest. “What’s the plan?”
“The plan is to take you back to your father with the USB drive and have you act normal for a few days, so basically, be a brat,” I smiled at her, and she pinched my nipple over my shirt. “Fuck, Nora.”
She grinned. “Continue.”
“You go to the church and walk down the aisle so we can take them all out,” I said with a breath.
“Oh.” She sat up and folded her legs, looking at her hands as she thought about it. She looked unsure when she looked twice. “When you saytake them all out. . .”
“Someone will take the bystanders somewhere safe.”
“But. . .” She looked down again, folding and unfolding her hands. “You’ll kill Adriano and his men?”
“Yes.”
“What about my mom?”
