Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 65987 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65987 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
"Play it again," I said, my voice barely recognizable as my own.
Vittorio complied without comment. I memorized every detail. We talked out everything we saw. The exact make and model of the SUV. The time stamps. The lack of intervention from any of the dozens of people in the lobby.
"What do we have on their destination?"
Dom, Vittorio’s second and best friend, entered the room, phone pressed to his ear. "They’re headed to the Rossi estate on the other end of the province," he announced, ending his call. "They’ve got all hands on deck for this. Must have been preparing for a while."
“Since that first fucking time Vincent Rossi cornered her at The Gray.” Rage burned inside me hot and deadly. “When I get to that son of a bitch, I’m going to fucking kill him.”
Marcus tossed me a Kevlar vest. I was supposed to wear one at all times, but I hated the thing and usually “forgot” to put the thing on. I shrugged out of my suit jacket, loosened my tie, and unbuttoned my shirt. I strapped the vest around my torso over my undershirt before redressing again.
“Is the car ready?” I adjusted my cuff links, trying to use the movement to steady my mind. Because, for the first time I could remember since I was a boy, my anger warred with fear.
“In the garage, ready to go.” Dom finished redressing after strapping on his own vest and checked his side arm. “Ready when you are, boss.”
I took a breath. “Felix, contact Rossi and set up a meet.” Vittorio and Dom exchanged a look and I pounded my fist against the table. “I’m not fucking negotiating with him!” I snapped. “I’m getting myself in the same room as that cocksucker and I’m going to kill him with my bare hands.”
“While I admire the viciousness of your plan,” Vittorio said, laying a restraining hand on my shoulder, “Matteo has this. His men will set up and be ready when you set up the meet.”
Much as I hated to admit it, I knew Vittorio had a clear head where I was anything but rational at the moment. I absolutely would burn the world down to get Belle back and make no apologies for it. But that wasn’t always what was best for the family. Ultimately, my brothers would sacrifice everything for me, and that meant they’d sacrifice for Belle. We’d all like to let cooler heads take the lead, though, and save the nuclear options until every other option had been exhausted.
I took another steadying breath. “Fuck,” I swore under my breath. I’d actually broken out in a sweat. My gaze met Vittorio’s and I knew my expression conveyed the helplessness I felt. “V…”
“I’ll take care of everything, Dario,” Vittorio said softly. “You will do what I tell you too, yes?”
“You swear to me you’ll protect her at all costs, V. Swear it.”
“On my life, brother.” To my shock, Vittorio didn’t fight me. While I knew my brothers would always have my back, I knew they weren’t all sold on Belle yet. Though, Gabriel had pronounced her the most honestly guileless, selfless individual he’d ever met, the others quietly watched us and reserved judgement. “I see what she means to you. Whether I trust her motives or not doesn’t matter. She’s your woman. That’s enough for me.”
"He'll want to be present when I arrive. This is personal for him." My gaze didn’t waver from Vittorio’s. “Rossi wants me to know that, finally, he’s found someone close to me he can hurt.”
"It's a trap," Vittorio said bluntly. “We all know it.”
"I agree.”
Me and V stared at each other for long moments. Then Vittorio gave me a slow nod. “OK. Rossi will call. When he does, we’ll set up a meet. Once we get there, Matteo will take it from there.”
“I take it he’s headed to the Rossi estate where we think they are taking Bella?”
“He is,” Fritz answered from across the room. “One of his team has a visual on Miss Belle. Matteo confirmed. They’re setting up as we speak. Matteo said he thinks he will have us visual and audio before Rossi is ready to contact you.”
I should have known my brothers would have my back. "We find her. Tonight," I said, my voice deadly calm as I finally found my center. Fitting it would be with my brothers. "And then they pay."
Chapter Fifteen
Dario
I stepped out of the SUV into the night air, heavy with salt and decay from the nearby harbor. The abandoned warehouse loomed before me, a hulking shadow against the midnight sky. Matteo and Vittorio flanked me immediately, their movements in tune with mine from years of operating as a unit. My rage had crystallized into something cold and deadly, a familiar state that had served me well over the years. Belle was inside those walls. With Vincent Rossi. The thought sent ice through my veins, but my face remained a mask of calm as we approached the rusted entrance doors.