LAKE
“Uncle, what are you doing here?” The look on his face alone, I knew something terrible happened.
“Where have you two been? And you’re not answering your phone.”
“I left my phone here. We just went for a horse ride.”
“Without your men?” He glanced over at Owen and Homer.
“They wanted some time alone, sir,” Homer answered.
“Inside the property, uncle. Why? What’s going on?” I was just kissing Maverick when I heard Tennessee’s gallop. George came to tell us that we had visitors.
He breathed deeply as if gathering a strength within. “I don’t know how to break this news to you, Maverick, but maybe you should sit down first.”
“No.” She swallowed hard and blinked back the tears. “Just tell me already, Mr. Braddson.”
“The private jet that carried Gaetano and Terzo just crashed in the Pacific Ocean.”
I heard a gasp, and it came from Maverick.
“What?” I just stared in utter shock. A shiver coursed through me, and I felt like someone just pulled the ground under my feet.
“Hey.” Owen caught Maverick before she fell on the floor. “Mrs. Winston, take a breath.”
“Take her to the couch,” Uncle told Owen, which jolted me back to reality.
I followed Owen as he carried my wife.
“I’m fine. Just put me down.” It wouldn’t be Maverick if she wouldn’t complain.
“Baby, for once, just do as I say. Sit down, please?”
“Fine.” She was still pale as she sat down on the couch, her elbows on her knees, hands on her face. “I can’t believe this is happening. When is this going to end?”
“Son, can we talk?”
Maverick lifted her chin quickly, fought back the tears, and looked up at my uncle. “No offense, sir, but I want to hear everything. Those are my family.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I need to, please?” She wiped a single tear that rolled down her cheek.
“It’s okay, uncle,” I muttered, my voice still shaky.
“Okay. We’ll talk in the study.”
“Mr. Braddson, the rest have arrived,” Jacques informed, coming with full gear and shocking Maverick.
“What the hell is going on?” Her eyes were wide as she looked behind Jacques. At least two SUVs just arrived at the front of the house.
“We’ll talk about all of these in the study.”
“Let’s go.” Linden just walked in, hair disheveled, and looked like he hadn’t slept since yesterday.
In the study, I let Maverick sit down next to me. She hadn’t said a word but wrapped her arms around her. My stomach began twisting up in knots even if no one had spoken out a word just yet.
“There was no survivor in the plane crash, but no bodies hadn’t found. According to the aviation report, there was a mayday call from the pilot before they lost contact. That was eight hours ago,” uncle said.
“The plane crash report was already broadcast all over the news and internet,” Linden added. “That means the remaining Siciliano alive is the daughter, Celestina Siciliano, who is married to Giosue Conti.”
“I don’t know why I felt bad for Gaetano after he just took Terzo to kill in Italy,” Maverick finally found her voice as she said softly.
“Because you’re a good person, honey,” Linden said. “Process this through. I know it’s hard. If I knew this would happen, I would have done something-”
“You couldn’t have done without bloodshed, Gabe. You did the right thing. At least Terzo did not suffer from flogging.”
“What’s the cause of the crash, uncle?” I held and squeezed Maverick’s hand.
“A strong turbulence occurred, and according to the emergency call, there may have been an engine failure, too.”
“A sabotage?”
All our gaze was pinned to Maverick until my uncle spoke. “We can’t confirm it until we find debris, just like what happened to me.”
“Then why are those men outside?” she asked them.
My uncle gave a cue at Linden.
“Someone had seen you talking to Gaetano yesterday, at least four people, and they heard your conversation.”
“And?” She looked at Linden, confused.
“They might suspect you of being the reason the crash happened,” I told her, in short.
“Are you kidding me?” She glared at us one by one, pointing at herself. “Me, capable of doing that horrible thing? I drank my butt the whole night.”
“Honey, you just demonstrated your capability to the mafia by sitting down with their Don. You went there with two SUVs full of armed men. They also took Terzo from the Osmium. They saw you as a threat that could take down a powerful organization like the Siciliano Family.”
“I’m also that man’s daughter, Mr. Braddson.”
“That’s the point. Now that they know who you are-”
I cursed under my breath. It just became clearer to her why all those men were outside. She looked utterly terrified than I’d ever seen her.
“Oh, my God. They think I killed my ruthless father and my brother to take over the family business? That’s absurd. That’s ridiculous. I don’t want to do anything with them. They can have whatever they want.”
“Exactly, but they won’t just take your word for it, baby.” When she glared at me, I raised my hands. “I’m just making a point here.”
“God.” She blew a shaky breath. “What have I done? I just killed my brother. I mean literally. He would still be alive today if he had not come yesterday.”
“I’m so sorry, Maverick, but you must take this threat seriously,” Linden said.
“What should we do, Linden, Uncle?”
“They’re coming after your wife, Winston. That’s for sure. If you come in between, or anyone will stop them. They don’t care if it’s a dog-”
“Yeah. Terzo just said even a cockroach,” she added, shaking her head. “I want to talk to someone who would take over Gaetano. I need to clear my name.”
“That’s not a good idea, Maverick.” I let out an irritated sigh. There you go. Here we were again.
Her eyes narrowed. “How do you suggest to clear my name? How do I make them believe that I have nothing to do with their deaths? That it was just an engine failure unless someone plotted an assassination against the Siciliano family and tried to frame me.”
“Good point, Maverick, but we have to find the engine to show them evidence,” said Linden. “Who would want to- that’s a stupid question. Everyone wanted to kill Gaetano.”
Maverick stood up. “I felt so guilty right now. I told Gaetano how barbaric he was.”
“Well, he was a ruthless man, Maverick,” my uncle agreed. “Celestina might take over the seat or her husband.”
“The Conti?” Linden snorted. “Ugo? Celestina will not let him, but she’s also a woman. The organization might not take her seriously, especially since Giosue is Conti’s heir.”
“Gabriel, he is a don. His son is married to Siciliano’s daughter.”
“Celestina,” Maverick muttered.
“Yeah. Do you think they will allow the biggest organization to be run by a woman like Celestina, who’s under her husband’s control? No. That would be the downfall of Siciliano. Even I would not let it happen. No offense, honey. I’m not a sexist, but I don’t see Celestina as Dona. Maverick would fit better.” Uncle made a point.
“Hell no. I would never get involved in their monkey business.”
“That’s the whole point, honey. Maybe this is not an accident.” He picked up his phone and dialed someone.
We watched him in silence.
“Dem, can you gather a team and find the missing pieces of the private jet G82173? I want a thorough investigation. If it’s sabotage or struck by lightning or engine failure. However, it fell from the sky, even if a missile had taken it down. I need to know. Make it a top priority, and it’s urgent. Get divers. Make it possible in three days. Thank you.”
I shook my head in amusement. “You do this a lot?”
“No, but if your mother finds out about this threat, she will have a heart attack.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet.”
Maverick raised her hand. “Will you help me talk to Celestina, or should I call Ugo?”
“You won’t talk to anyone, Maverick. Try listening to me this time. If you had not talked to Gaetano and convinced him to acquit Terzo, we wouldn’t have this problem.”
“So, it’s my fault, huh? How about you digging into my family’s secret? If you only leave it alone, we wouldn’t be here in this situation in the first place. You started this as much as I did.”
“She’s right, son.”
I shut my mouth because, somewhat, it was my fault.
“Well, nobody knows until we know. Who would have thought Gaetano had another child,” Linden said as he went to the liquor cabinet, helping himself.
“I can’t lock myself up here. My grandma is out there alone.”
“Don’t worry about her. I have men looking after your Nana.”
“Thanks, Gabe, but I don’t want to put those men outside in danger. I know that’s a part of their job, but I can’t, in my good conscience, drop their blood for me. I have to do something before they come and start shooting at everyone.”
“I know just a girl like her.” Uncle Moses chuckled.
“Who? My wife or your daughter-in-law? I feel like this is a deja vu all over again,” Linden said, amused.
“What do you mean?” Maverick asked, and I didn’t know the whole story.
“Long story, but it’s about London and Cade,” Linden replied.
“I want to go to Italy and meet Celestina.”
Fuck.