That’s fair.
And I truly do feel for her where her business is concerned.
It’s one of the main reasons I didn’t do more when Satriano appeared today, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do better in the future to ensure none of us ever find ourselves in that position again.
“Your business isn’t my top priority, Ang. I’m sorry to say that, but the security of everyone in this room is. And in order to do that, in order to keep everyone safe, we may have to make some sacrifices in some other areas.”
Savage presses his lips together tightly and glances at Gabe, then at everyone in the room. “We know Satriano’s back, so that frees up some of the resources we’ve been expending trying to locate him, right?” Everyone nods their agreement. “So, anyone we had on that, let’s put on trying to figure out what the fuck he’s doing back in town. Where’s he staying? Who is he meeting with? Every fucking breath that man takes, I want a record of it, and I want it reported to me. Immediately.”
Gabe nods. “He wouldn’t be back if he doesn’t want something, if he isn’t going to make a move.”
Coen issues a frustrated growl. “Do we really think that move would be anything other than coming for Allegra now that she’s pregnant with his grandchild?”
All eyes sweep over to the woman in question, and Coen wraps his arm around her as she trembles beside him.
Despite how upset she clearly is, she shakes her head. “He won’t hurt me.”
Coen presses a kiss to his temple. “That may be true, but he’s not going to just leave you to raise our baby with the Hawkes, cutting him off completely, either. You know that.”
Tears shimmer in her eyes, and she bites her quivering bottom lip and nods. She doesn’t want to see who and what her father really is, and the fact that she still loves him and believes he is a different person than the one we know is only going to hurt her in the end.
It will take time for her to come to terms with everything her father has done, what he continues to do, but each time he does something like his stunt today, it helps nudge her toward finally understanding what he’s capable of.
“Keep her locked up in the penthouse.” Gabe’s order floats through the air, leaving no room for argument. “She doesn’t leave. It’s the most secure property we have.”
Isaac scoffs. “That’s what we all believed before that fucker Dan Roselli had it shot up.”
Atlas winces, and Astrid suddenly goes very pale, curling in on herself slightly.
Gabe gives him a hard look. “Well, now it has bulletproof glass, and we’ve tripled the security in the lobby. No one’s getting in or out. We’ve also installed a separate ventilation system to ensure that nothing like a fire or any gas put into the building vents can reach the penthouse. It has its own exit stairwell. We’ve done everything we can to ensure it’s safe.”
Isaac scowls. “Doesn’t make me feel any better about it.”
Which is one of the reasons he took Jack and their kids and moved into their house shortly after the shooting. The memories of what happened at the penthouse certainly played a role too, but ultimately, Isaac wanted a place his family could feel safe.
And that wasn’t it anymore.
Allie clings to Pope, resting her head against his chest. “What about the rest of us? What do we do? He brought up Pope and his agreement with him. He’s going to come calling at some point.”
Not only does Pope have his agreement with Satriano, but Coen agreed to play for him in any tournaments he demands to pay him back for the money lost due to Atlas’ fight.
Just because he hasn’t come to collect yet doesn’t mean it won’t happen.
Everyone knows it, too.
The reprieve we’ve had has come to an end.
Those vague threats we’ve been so worried about with Satriano MIA don’t feel so vague anymore, knowing the man is in town along with one of his henchmen.
An eerie silence settles over the room because it’s become very clear that we don’t really have a plan to deal with him.
Gage watches all of it, gathering what information he can, but without all the particulars of what’s gone down with that man over the years, there’s no way he can fully grasp the situation. Still, the gears are turning behind his blue eyes.
I look from him to Dad, then to Gabe, Stone, and Savage. The men who have always stood at the head of this family. Yet no one has offered any sort of solution that will end this, once and for all.
“What do we do?” It’s the question all of us are asking ourselves, but apparently, I’m the only one willing to voice it. “Do we take him out? Have we finally reached that point?”
They all look to me, and the man who’s been standing silently in the corner shakes his head.
