“We can call him now.” Francine pulled the burner phone from her purse and handed it to me.
I chewed on my bottom lip and flicked open the basic silver cell phone. It wasn’t hard to find Lorenzo’s number, as it was the only number saved. My stomach twisted at the thought of asking for his help, but there was so much more at stake than our egos. Hundreds of people could’ve died tonight if Angelo had attacked the right hotel. And we only had a small window of time before Angelo figured out our ruse.
Spade rubbed my shoulders, while Kellan gripped my thigh and Merrick took my free hand. I wasn’t alone anymore. I had my men by my side and my friends at my back. This wasn’t me choosing to trust a Barone; this was all of us banding together to protect this town and keep the ones we loved safe.
I pressed his contact and put the phone on speaker. Every tinny ring made my nerves ratchet even higher, my heart racing as though I was in a fight for my life. The call rang out, not even taking us to voicemail, leaving the adrenaline settling in my stomach like a leaden weight.
“Well then…” Spade trailed off, his huff of amusement brushing against the back of my neck, raising goosebumps in its wake.
Zane grumbled something unintelligible under his breath, and Sebastian crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at the phone like it had personally offended him. “I knew he wouldn’t be here when we actually needed him.”
A crease formed between my brows, but before I could get a word out the shrill chirp of the phone sent a jolt of panic straight to my heart. I clasped a hand to my chest, trying to slow the rapid thumping as I glanced down at the screen. It was the same number that Lorenzo had programmed in.
“I’m assuming you know about the fire?” He was short of breath like he was running.
“Yes. You could’ve given us a warning, though.” I pursed my lips unamused after seeing the destruction that could’ve taken so many lives today.
“It had to look like a genuine reaction.” He heaved in a breath, his footsteps pounding in the background.
“Are you running for your life or something?”
“Nothing quite that dramatic.” He chuckled. “But I’m assuming since you finally called me, you’ve decided I can be trusted. So I’m trying to lose the tail my father has on me.”
A car door slamming echoed through the phone as an engine roared to life. “I can’t risk meeting you, not when I can’t be sure if I’ve lost him, but we can talk over the phone. Does this mean you’re making your move tonight?”
I glanced around the room, meeting each of their sure gazes. “Yes. This ends tonight.”
“Good.” Amusement laced the word as tires squealed on asphalt. “I’m ready to get rid of the bastard and get the hell out of this town.”
“If we work together tonight, I need to know that you’ll do as you said. You’ll remove any trace of the Barone empire from East Haven, and you’ll sort through your men. If I go to New York,which I promise I will, I’m not going to find any of your men cornering young women in back alleys, am I?”
“Of course not,” he hissed, the steering wheel creaking with the effort he must’ve been squeezing it with. “I will put a bullet between any man’s eyes who would ever force a woman, corner, or intimidate anyone who didn’t deserve it.”
“Good. Then we have a plan to work through.” Icy determination filled my veins as I rose from my seat despite Spade’s arms trying to wrap around me and pull me back down onto his lap. “You go through the logistics while I get some paper to draw a layout of the mansion.”
“I’m glad I’m on your side,” Lorenzo scoffed. “This won’t be easy, but if there was a time to strike, tonight would be the night.”
“Why is that?”
“Angelo’s celebrating his ‘win’ tonight,” Lorenzo said, disgust lacing his tone. “He’s gathered everyone higher up in the organization, and all of his government contacts to celebrate. He’s assuming you’ll hand yourself over to stop him from hurting anyone else.”
I gritted my teeth, hating that it was something I would probably do. I’d already sacrificed myself to a monster; what would it mean to do so again if I could keep the entire town safe, as well as the men I loved?
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Merrick
Gianaleanedbackinher chair as she pushed the papers forward. She’d sketched out the layout of the three floors of the Barone mansion with enough accuracy; it made my teeth grind—not because I was upset with her for being there, but because she’d clearly felt the need to note every room and exit when she was there. Even when she was enduring her time with Tommaso, the possibility of escape never left her mind.
I selfishly didn’t like to think about all the years she had to spend with him, but once this fight was over, I had no doubt everything would come bubbling back up to the surface. And we’d all be here for her every step of the way.
“I have some men loyal to me who are on guard tonight. I trust them with my life, and they don’t like the way my fatherruns his business.” Lorenzo’s voice echoed through the speaker, his sound alone enough to get my hackles up. He sounded and looked too much like Tommaso for me to ever forget they were brothers.
I glanced at Sebastian, who was holding himself just as rigidly as I was. He must’ve felt my gaze on him since he gave me a tight nod. Trusting a Barone wasn’t something any of us wanted to do, but Sebastian had the tallest hurdle to leap over when it came to the crime family. My biceps twitched with how tense I was, and I gave him a nod of acknowledgment before focusing back on the conversation.
“They’ll be stationed out front, and they’ll take care of the guards loyal to Angelo while you go around the back. You’ll wait for me to give the signal, and then you’ll come in through the back and my guards will come in through the front.”
“And what will stop them from trying to escape?” I cut in, refusing to allow us to walk in without every situation covered.
