I pause, wondering if he’ll see my change of heart as weakness or a concern that I’m being played. “I sent her home and they tortured her. She escaped to warn me.”
“Nice of her, considering what an asshole you can be.”
“I don’t deserve her, Luca, any more than you deserve your wife and children, but like you, I’ll destroy the world to save them.”
“All I need to hear. Cristian and I will be on a plane in a few hours. I can’t spare too many men… got my own battles, but I can bring a dozen or so.”
“I’ll be in your debt.”
“I’ll remember that if I ever need you.”
Two nights later, my study is a war room, maps of the Vitale estate and properties cover every surface. Surveillance photos are pinned alongside building schematics. Luca and Cristian arrived yesterday and immediately dove into planning.
“I have a few old contacts,” Cristian says. “Mercenary types who can help.”
“Whatever they want, I’ll pay.”
"Marco's overconfident." Adriano taps the map of the Vitale compound. "He's pulled security from these three points to bulk up his attack force for tomorrow."
Luca nods. "The east entrance is practically unguarded. That's our way in."
"The men are ready," Adriano confirms. "Thirty of our best, plus Luca's crew from Chicago. The rest are at the port, where they’replotting our demise. We’ll be able to take out a good number of his men. We’ll take over the port as well.”
“Good.” I review the map of the house. “Marco will be here, and Enrico stays in the east wing."
"I'll take Enrico," Luca volunteers. "That little shit has been a problem long enough."
“I want Marco and Enrico alive. I have plans for them,” I say, salivating at the thought of torturing them like they did to Isabella. Or maybe not. I don’t have the patience. I’ll just put a bullet into each of their heads.
“What about Mrs. Vitale?” Adriano asks.
“Bring her with Marco and Enrico.” I haven’t figured out what to do with her. Isbella insists she’s too detached from the world to know anything. But old habits die hard. I might trust Isabella, but I don’t know that I can trust her mother.
"The Vitales believe we're fractured." I look around at my brothers and our men. "Tonight, they learn how wrong they are."
Cristian checks his watch. "Four hours until we move."
I nod, feeling the familiar calm before battle.
I talk to my house staff and then head upstairs to see Isabella. Her coloring has improved, but she’s still weak.
“It will be over tonight,” I say as I take her hand and sit next to her on the bed.
She gives me a wan smile, indicating she’s afraid. I talk a big talk, but I’m a realist. I’ve lived in this world long enough to know my life could be over tonight. That my men could fail. And if the Vitales win, Isabella and the baby are in danger.
“Elena is going to come in a little bit to pack a bag.”
Immediately, Isabella tenses. “Why?”
“It’s a precaution. If things don’t go well tonight, Georgio will come get you and drive you to the airport. You’ll fly to Chicago where one of Luca’s men will meet you and help you get a new identity and set you up wherever you want to go.”
“Alessandro, I can’t?—”
“You will for our child. Promise me.”
“I don’t want to go without you.”
“This only happens if I’m dead or we lose. You understand, right?”
