Page 91 of The Strength Of A Woman

I look down as I take it from him.

It’s a deserted area behind a church.

Right.

Have they gotten that lazy, really?

It’s probably an ambush.

“He said he had a message for you from Stefano Varela,” the young man says, and my focus sharpens.

“He said that?”

The kid nods a couple of times.

“Yes, he did. He also said it was a pressing matter.”

I signal to my men to walk him out and release him before I turn to Cosimo.

“He could call you,” he says.

“He could also give up,” I toss back at him with sarcasm, not directed at him, though. “Which will never happen. Giorgio talked. Obviously. All right… Let’s see what he wants,” I murmur, picking up a few more guns.

“I’ll go,” Cosimo says.

“You stay here with her. I’ll take half of our men since I don’t trust Varela.”

“Okay, Boss.”

Minutes later, I slide into my seat in the back of my bulletproof car, thinking about Leilani and how I might regret that I didn’t go further with her.

16

CALLUM

I reachthe area with my men within minutes, and I quickly realize something’s wrong.

No man is waiting for me here.

Actually, a burly man sits at a table on a cobblestone street, and he fits the kid’s description, yet he denies he knows anything about a meeting with us, and he has no idea who I am.

As my men pick him up, he also claims he hasn't talked to a kid this evening and that he doesn't have the slightest clue who Stefano Varela is.

“The house,” I say, signaling to the driver to head back.

It’s a fucking trap.

It looked like one, and it is one, for sure.

“Hurry,” I bark at the driver who lurches the car forward.

One of my men’s phones lights up, and we both look down.

“They’re at the house.”

“How many?” I ask, cold.

“Twelve men.”