“Look, I know you’re upset, and you have every right to be, but don’t act on impulse. You’re going to get yourself killed.” I round on him, fists clenched at my side as my temper boils. How the fuck would he know? How the hell can he understand? “I’m not saying not to go after her,” he rushes out, hands raised placatingly. “I know you want her, but this isn’t a normal operation. We’re talking about people who will kill you on sight.”
“I don’t fucking care. She’s mine, Massimo. We’re both too fucking stubborn, but she has never had someone to fight for her before now. Her whole life has been a lie, and I fucking knew it, but I could never get it out of her. So it’s time someone showed her that she’s not fucking alone, and she’s not a commodity to pass around for people’s whims and pleasures. So I’m going to fucking get her.”
Fuck, I’ve been so fucking stupid. She wanted more from me, and I took it and turned it back in her face—sure, then, that I couldn't trust her. That she was only out to serve her own interests. I’m going to have to get on my knees and beg her to forgive me, but I’ll do it.
Hell, I’ll crawl if I have to.
“Papa needs to approve?—”
“I already have,” Pietro says from the doorway. We turn to see him, Papa, and Alessio standing there, grim expressions on their faces. Pietro looks at me, gaze dark and knowing. “And she’s the one you want? You love her?”
There’s so much he’s asking in that statement. Making me acknowledge aloud. I’ve denied it until now.
I nod. “I’m going to be the one to marry her, Pietro. We’re going to drive each other insane, but she’s who I want.” I look at Papa, needing him to understand. To approve.
Papa nods in understanding, smiling softly. As if he knew this was going to happen all along.
He probably has. He and Pietro are like that. Astute and seeing things before the rest of us get our heads out of our asses and realize it.
“If she’s the one you want, then get her. But know that your life is not going to be easy,” Pietro warns, and I scowl at the warning. “No, wait. I’m not saying that because I don’t like her or won’t accept her. She’s a very smart and strong woman. She put her life on the line to be here, and she’s helped us in more ways than we can repay. She lied about Tatiana, yes, but I can understand the reasons. It hurt her to leave, not just Hades, but you. But she’s Russian, and Italians and Russians don’t mix. It may not be an easy life with them trying to undo that, or trying to punish her for leaving them, but we’ll be behind you both.”
Relieved, I reply, “Thank you, Pietro. I’ve thought of that, but I don’t care. If it means we have to fight, then we fight. Rori is…she’s everything for me, and I was an idiot who couldn’t see it and hurt her in the process. So I’m getting her back, and I’m going to fix it one way or another.”
The certainty of it settles hard in my gut. Like a piece of a puzzle I’ve been missing, clicking into place.
“Good. You’ll take Hades and one man with you,” Pietro orders. He holds up a hand to stave off what he thinks is going to be an argument. “Non-negotiable, Alonzo. Someone needs to be with you and report back to us in case you need help. One call, and we’ll be there.” He smirks. “We’ve won one war; getting involved in another one with the Russians will be a piece of cake.”
We all chuckle. “I’ll take Ivano or Titus with me,” I agree. “Titus has worked with the dogs back home, so I’d prefer him, because he can handle Hades when I can’t be there.”
I hope. We’ll see if Hades tries to bite his balls off, but we’ll manage.
We’ll need a crash course on the plane to make sure we can control him as much as possible. At least until we get Rori back.
“Good. Nico has offered his plane.” Pietro looks at Massimo, Alessio, and Papa. “Urso and Zeno have offered to stay to help get things figured out here, but the rest of us need to get home. We’ve been away for too long.”
I grab my bag and heft it over my shoulder, before looking at Massimo. We’ve always done this shit together, and I can see the guilt on his face that he’s not offering to help me. I understand, though. His woman and new son come first, and I don’t want them in harm’s way. “Take your woman and son home, Massimo. I’ll be fine,” I assure him. Then I look at Alessio. “And try not to get shot before you leave. Nico’s got no reason not to kill you now.”
Alessio scoffs, waving that away. “I’m just getting that stick out of his ass a little faster. Besides, we all know he loves me.” He claps his hand on my shoulder, even if it is a bit of a stretch. “Sienna will kill me if anything happens to Rori, so try to get both of you home in one piece. I already have the other women trying to calm her down and keep her from going after them herself.” He smirks. “Might have to put those knots to use again to keep her from running off.”
“Tell her that I’ll bring her friend home,” I promise. No vow. I won’t be coming home without her.
I shake hands with Pietro and Papa, trying to give them a small bit of reassurance. I call for Hades, who moves to my side eagerly. He follows me. I bend to rub at the top of his head and then lead him out the door.
I text the men I want with me as we head downstairs, and when I emerge outside, they’re waiting for me. Titus sees us first, and he takes in Hades thoughtfully. Hades emits a low growl when he sees all the men waiting for us. “Friends, Hades, friends.”
The dog doesn’t lower his guard, still growling. I wrack my brain for the commands Rori gave but come up empty. Damn it.
I say the command again, throwing a little bit more firmness in the statement, and it seems to work enough that he stops growling, but he doesn’t approach any of the men. Instead, he allows me to lead him to the back of the SUV and then he jumps in at my order.
I look into his eyes, listening to him pant with the stress and confusion. “We’re going to get her back, boy. We’ll get your mama back.” I reach out and scratch his ears.
I shut the trunk and climb into the SUV. “Make sure the jet is ready to leave. I want all the information on the Belovs you can find. We need to make a plan.”
“Where are they again?” Titus asks. He’s newer to the scene, having come over with the dogs we requested.
“California. And we’re not coming home until we bring back Rori O’Brien. I don’t care how many Russians we have to kill to get it done. We have the full support of Pietro to start another war if we have to.”
“Damn, we haven’t seen this much action in a long time,” Ivano remarks lightly from the other side of me. “I was worried I was going to start getting rusty. I’ll never complain about taking out some of those Russian bastards.”
