MAVERICK
“How could he hurt her? I thought he loved her?” I felt so bad for Celestina. I saw the deep pain and sorrow in her eyes.
I wished I could do something to save her, but I knew it would not be easy without men to help us take back the compound. I couldn’t fathom how scared she must have been to the man to whom she gave her trust.
“I don’t know, baby. Maybe it was his plan all these years to make her fall in love with him so he could take over Siciliano’s businesses. Gaetano is more powerful than his father. Without Terzo in the equation, he can take over the Don of two crime families.” Lake tightened his grip around mine as our vehicle entered the huge villa at the top of the hill after detours.
What amazed me the most was the view of the ocean. It was magnificent.
“What if he’s the one who tipped the authority about Terzo?”
He looked at me as if my words made sense. “Son of a bitch, and we just walked into the trap.”
“Maybe he wasn’t planning on killing us. Maybe he’s scared of Mr. Braddson. You know, London once threatened him.”
“Probably.” I was shocked to find out what happened to London because Giosue wanted revenge against Mr. Vanderford. “He’s been the snake all this time.”
The gate door slid open. There were at least five SUVs and a Land Rover parked inside.
“Are we expecting visitors?” Lake asked quickly.
“That’s them. The men I called,” Magnus said. He’d been a great help so far.
“If you are lying to us, and you’ve been Giosue’s puppet all this time, I will kill you.”
“Wait and see,” he said confidently as our SUV parked.
My heartbeat began racing again. The villa was beautiful and huge. As I looked around, I saw that men suddenly appeared, getting out of the house. What calmed me a little bit was that they nodded in acknowledgment.
“Welcome, Mr Winston, Signora Maverick,” said the man in his late forties.
“That’s Marco. The Capo- a loyal to the Don. He once took an oath of omerta,” Magnus informed us.
And then Moses just came out. I released a long breath of relief.
“Uncle, what are you doing here?”
“You walked into a trap. Good to know that you made it out unscathed, or Bea will kill me.”
“You could have called me or tipped us, uncle,” Lake expressed, but grateful at the same time.
“He wasn’t planning on killing you both. At least, not yet, or he’s good as dead,” Moses affirmed.
“Yeah. I guess we’re lucky.” I hugged him after he hugged Lake.
“So you knew? Is that why you’re here?” Lake inquired.
“I did not come alone.” He looked over his shoulder. “Let’s get inside. Are you okay, Maverick? Looks like you’ve been crying.”
“My sister is trapped in there.”
“I know, honey. We’ll work on that.”
“Thank you.” I smiled gratefully.
“Well, good to see you’re still alive, cuz.”
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Lake laughed as he hugged his cousin.
“I can’t wait to put a bullet in Giosue’s head,” Striker said casually, making me cringe. “Let’s say we have unfinished business-” His gaze landed on Magnus.
“Mr. Cade, how are you doing? How’s London?” Magnus said respectfully.
“Don’t ever say her fucking name again, asshole!”
“Son, he’s changed. He’s been a big help to the Siciliano. And it’s been years. You got the girl. Move on.”
“That’s right. He’s given us a lot of info, cuz.” Lake patted his back. “You got the girl, and I need him.”
“Fine,” Striker grunted, throwing a last glare at Magnus.
“Get in here, guys. We have a plan to do,” Linden called from the door.
Lake put a hand behind me as we got in the house.
Barely making it inside, I sucked in a breath and stopped at the entrance as I saw a familiar face grinning at me.
“OhmyGod. This can’t be.” My eyes widened as saucers. I forgot the people around me, even Lake, as I jumped into him.
“I missed you, too, sis.” He caught me in the air and spun me around.
“Put me down this instant, asshole!” I stared at him in disbelief. He looked exactly the same Terzo I met last week. “You’re alive.” I blinked rapidly, cupped his face, and gripped his arms, making sure he was not a ghost. I hit him in the chest because I was pissed off. “You son of a bitch! How are you even alive? I mourned for you, asshole. I spent hours crying for you, and here you are, still a smug son of a bitch!”
“I know. I can explain,” he said calmly while I was so furious I could barely breathe.
“I don’t need your explanation, asshole!” I actually do. I couldn’t care less about the people watching me. I was caught up in my emotions of being furious and happy at the same time that he was not dead.
“Do you know anything about this, uncle?” Lake asked.
“Not until I arrived here this morning. I came here with my son and Gabe to make sure you can come out alive. We were prepared to attack the compound if they took you hostage,” said Moses.
I was ready to walk out when my father came downstairs, trapping the air in my lungs. “OhmyGod. Is this some kind of a joke?”
“Hello, daughter,” Gaetano said reverently.
I swallowed down the lump in my throat, my limbs shaking. I was torn between happiness and consumed with rage as I looked at Gaetano, who was very alive and standing before me.
“You guys are insane,” I exclaimed. “Do you know what you put me through? How I felt when I found out you were dead?”
“I know, Maverick.”
“No, you don’t.” I blinked back the tears, but it was too late.
“She’s been through hell for the past week, Siciliano. Do you know the pain and the trauma and the fear that she endured from your people who would come to her to retaliate? You have no idea. She’s lucky she hasn’t been in the mental hospital. This is not some kind of game. She’s mourned for both of you, and she still is.”
“My apology, son,” Gaetano said to Lake. “Maverick, I know I owe you an apology.”
God, I wanted to slap him hard, but there were at least twenty armed men inside the house, and they might kill me if I tried. “Explain.”
We settled at the long table. Lake sat next to me, his hand on my thigh. To my right was Moses, and next to him were Striker and Linden. Across us were my father and Terzo.
“I’ve never trusted Ugo’s son, but my daughter seemed smitten with him,” Gaetano started. “I lost buyers, associates, and a lot of money. So I told Magnus to do his investigation and keep it discreet. I found out I lost fifty million euros in just one year. I have people in the government, but I was shocked how my son got arrested and had no way out but to cooperate.”
“Giosue paid someone to frame me with hard evidence- ten kilos of drugs. I had no choice but to make a deal. The rest, you know,” Terzo specifically told me.
“So I made a plan. I just told Terzo about it when I attended your graduation in the States. I apologized for the harsh words, Maverick, but I had to make it believable. I wished I could take back what I said.”
“So you put a bomb on the jet?”
I turned my head to Lake.
“I told you, Winston, I can make anything look like an accident. Papa doesn’t know how to parachute. One of them tandem with him. The rest were with us and waiting at the yacht.”
“You killed the crew?”
At least four men raised their hands, standing behind them.
“These are your crew in that jet?” I asked incredulously, snorting. “Wow.”
I blew a breath as I rested my back, still shaking my head in disbelief. “Glad you’re all alive.”
“I thought you received my letter.”
I glared at Terzo. “I’ve never gotten so drunk that I couldn’t remember what I did until that night, dear brother when I found out you were dead. I shouldn’t have gotten drunk.” I felt I was about to cry again. “I almost ruined my liver for you, and then here you are alive, smiling like a psychopath. If I throw this cup on your face, are they going to kill me?”
“Baby, calm down,” Lake whispered, gripping my thigh.
“I will kill them if they lay a hand on you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Unbelievable.”
I reread his letter in my head and rolled my eyes. “You tricked me. You could have just said, Maverick, my father and I plan to jump into the ocean. Please, don’t mourn for me.”
“I know, but it worked, so here we are.” He beamed at me.
“So you’re not going to flog or kill him?” I asked my father.
“No. I know where his loyalty lies. To this family.”
“Good.” I let out a content sigh. “Now we have to get your compound back. I had a brief meeting with Celestina. She’s a captive there. I saw her bruises.”
“That motherfucker. I will fucking kill him.” I was startled at Terzo’s booming voice in the entire house and the broken cup clattering on the floor as he angrily threw it. His eyes filled with so much rage and retaliation. “He hurt my sister? I warned him once, and he still did it. He just punched his death card.”
“I’ll help you kill that asshole.”
All eyes glued to Striker.
“For once, Cade, we’re on the same page,” Terzo agreed.
Gaetano and Moses looked at each other silently, and it spoke volumes.
“So what’s the plan?” Lake asked.
“We already made a plan,” Terzo replied. “You and your men, Signor Braddson, my father, and Magnus will stay here. If this villa is compromised, we have men to protect you all.” Terzo turned to the guy with sterling blue eyes. “Alessio, don’t let anyone get to my father and my sister, or I will come for you and your family.”
Of course, he had to threaten everyone.