She nods. “Don’t lose.”
I smile. “The plan is to win.” And kill her family. But I don’t say that. I’m sure she knows that will be the outcome, so there’s no need to bring it up.
I lean over. “I love you.” Pressing my hand over her belly, I say, “And I love our baby.”
She clutches at my shirt. “You'd better come home to us, Alessandro Dante.”
Blood pools and spatters across the courtyard of the Vitale estate. I watch another of my men fall, a bullet catching him in the throat. Tomasso, who'd worked for my father.
The initial assault had gone according to plan. We'd breached the east entrance with minimal resistance, just as Cristianpredicted. But it was almost as if Marco knew we were coming. Or maybe he suspected since they had to know Isbella escaped.
The reinforcements we expected to be preparing for their attack at port were instead lying in wait.
"They were ready for us," Adriano shouts over the gunfire, ducking behind a tree as bullets splinter the wood around us
“They guessed once they realized Isabella was gone.” But I’m going to win or die here. “I’m going in.”
“Fuck, Alessandro, wait for more men.”
When we realized the reinforcements were here, we called in my men from the port, but it will take them time to arrive. Time I don’t have.
“I’m going.” I run like hell, dodging bullets, firing at the front door knob until the door swings open.
“Go, go, go… ” Adriano comes in behind me with several other men.
We’re met with Vitale soldiers, and while I’m able to pick a few off, they keep coming.
I scan the grand foyer where we're pinned down. Two of my men are dead.
"Fall back to the second position," I order, hating to retreat.
“Did we get bad intel?” The question comes from one of my men outside. “Could Mrs. Dante?—”
“Shut the fuck up and fight,” I order. Isabella didn’t set us up. I know that now.
“Oh, fuck.” Luca’s voice comes from the back of the house. “We’re surrounded.”
For the first time in years, I feel fear. Not for myself, but for what happens to Isabella and our child if I fall here. If all three Dante brothers die and our empire collapses.
A Vitale soldier rushes my position. I put two bullets in his chest, watching as he crumples.
"Alessandro!" Adriano's voice cuts through the chaos. "We need to retreat or go!"
I close my eyes for just a fraction of a second. Isabella's face appears. Not as I last saw her, pale and weak, but vibrant and fierce as she stood her ground against me. Against her family.
My eyes snap open. “Fuck that. Advance.” I rise from cover, shooting two Vitale men in quick succession.
"Take the west corridor!" I command, signaling Adriano and three of our men to flank the main contingent of Vitale soldiers. "Luca—with me!"
A new round of gunfire ignites outside, and I pray to God it’s my men and not more Vitale men.
My brother falls in behind me as we surge forward, using the surprise to push through the central hallway.
A soldier appears at the top of the staircase. I drop him with a single shot before he can even raise his weapon. Another emerges from a side room. Luca dispatches him and the man behind him.
“Yippee-ki-yay,” Cristian’s voice comes through my comms. “Die, motherfuckers. Backup is here.”
Thank fuck.
