LAKE
“No. I’m coming with you. I won’t just stand here and wait till it’s done.”
“No offense, cuz, but you have no military training. These people we’re after are ruthless, and they’ve killed, tortured, mutilated people. No offense, Mr. Siciliano.”
“None taken,” said Gaetano. I couldn’t believe they were alive, and they did all that plane crash to catch Giosue in the act.
“So in what these people and the enforcement know was that you were dead. Why take chances? Why not just stay dead and run your business underground?”
“Good point, but it only works for Papa. For me, I can’t stay dead,” Terzo said.
I was sitting across from my father-in-law, a powerful mafia don. I knew one day this information, this meeting would catch me in the ass, and I had no idea how to make it go away.
People would eventually find out who the father of Maverick was, and I had a name and a company’s image to keep. Yeah, but for the sake of my love for my wife, I took risks.
“Let the enforcement come after me. I’m not afraid of them,” Gaetano countered his son.
“Sorry to burst your bubble, but what exactly is the plan? Celestina’s life is still in grave danger. The longer we waste time discussing something, the more time runs out.”
“She’s really your daughter, Gaetano.” Uncle Moses smiled.
For the first time, I saw Gaetano smile. “He won’t kill her until he gets what he wants. Celestina may have loved Giosue, but she’s just a pain in the ass like you. She won’t give it away without a fight.”
“I thought you didn’t care,” Maverick said bitterly to her father. “I did believe that he would punish Terzo for betraying him. For me, that was not betrayal. That was honorable for choosing to sacrifice himself and his freedom for his family.”
“Thank you, sis, if you saw me that way.”
“Until today.” She narrowed her eyes at Terzo.
“So I’d rather be dead for real?”
“You were too eager to die, but that’s not important now. How do you plan on going to the compound undetected?” She looked at Linden.
“We don’t have to share the plan with you, but you have my word that we will extract and bring Celestina alive.” Linden met my gaze. “You stay with them. You know how to use a gun. Use them to anyone who comes through that door and climbs the wall. Giovanni will monitor the CCTV, and I set the alarm earlier before you arrived so you would know if the security is breached.”
“Got it.”
“I need a gun, too.”
I snapped my head at my wife. “Do you know how to use it?”
“Safe off, point, and shoot,” she said proudly.
“Baby, it’s easy to do that, but the question is, do you have the guts to pull the trigger? I know you are brave, but it’s taking someone’s life that’s not easy. It will haunt you throughout your life. Are you ready for that?”
Horror filled her eyes as she flinched. “Just give me a gun in case something won’t go as planned. I want to protect myself, too. I won’t use it if it’s not necessary.”
I wasn’t on board with the idea. Having a gun is a huge responsibility.
“Give me a gun,” she insisted.
Gaetano met my gaze, and we stared for a few seconds until he said, “What do you say, son?”
I looked at my wife. “Are you sure?”
She nodded. “You will be with me all the time.”
I blew a breath before I nodded. “All right.”
“Guys, we should go,” Linden called everyone.
“Cuz, take this one. It’s loaded. And here’s the extra ammo. I hope you won’t need to use it.” He gave me a Colt 45 and a mag.
“Be careful out there. I know Linden will watch your ass.”
“Don’t worry, cuz.”
We went outside the house as Linden and his men, with Gaetano’s soldier, got to the vehicles.
“Guys, don’t die out there, and bring my sister back.”
Everyone nodded, recognizing her as the daughter of Gaetano.
I kissed her head. “I’m proud of you.”
“Hey.” Terzo came. “If I-”
“You’ll make it. You’re like a fungi, hard to get rid of.”
Terzo smiled at his sister and offered a fist bump. “Take care. I’ll see you soon.”
“Be careful out there.” Gaetano slightly nodded, showing his dark, empathetic side. “Make sure that son of a bitch pays for what he’d done to our family.”
“You have my word, papa,” Terzo said proudly.
I felt Maverick stiffen beside me, horrified that her father just ordered his son to commit a crime. I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I was finally involved and an accomplice in committing a major crime.
We got back inside the house while some of Gaetano’s men stayed outside, watching for intruders.
“You two should find a room-”
“Why?” Maverick questions her father.
“So they can’t find you. I have a feeling Giosue already knew that you did not fly back to the US.”
“We made a distraction, Don Gaetano,” said Owen. “The jet is already on the way to the US without us. Unless he has someone who can access the manifest. We also made detours before we came over here.”
“That’s good to hear, but don’t be so confident. That son of a bitch is sneaky, slippery, and venomous.” He looked at it again. “Take your wife to the room downstairs. Don’t come out until you hear five knocks.”
Maverick tightened her grip on my arm. “What about the others?”
“I can take care of myself,” Uncle said. “They have to go through my men first. Take the door to the right, and turn on the light switch on the wall. Go down and choose the door to the right. It can withstand a nuclear blast. We’ll come for you when this is over.”
“I’ll watch the door, boss,” Owen said.
“Why don’t you both get inside?”
“Mrs. Winston, this is our job. Don’t worry, we can take care of ourselves,” Homer reminded her.
Maverick shifted her gaze at the three tall, huge men behind her father. “Don’t let him die.”
They nodded at her. Marco came to us and gave her a small handgun, a Glock 22, perfect for her. He explained and gave a brief demonstration.
“Cute and deadly.” She checked it out on her palm.
“Always point down. It’s loaded, signora.”
“Got it. Thanks.” She went to my uncle. “Be careful, Mr. Braddson.”
“Don’t worry, honey.”
“Uncle-”
“Son, just get your ass inside.”
“Be careful.” I hugged him before we went to the basement.
The metal door was heavy and thick, similar to a military bunker. Some food supplies, water, and blankets were on the floor. Then, to the left was a small door. I checked it out: a small room with a medium wooden bed in the corner, a single table, and a lamp.
As soon as Maverick got inside, I double-locked the door after me.
“This looks like a prison to me.” She looked around. It was just a plain cream wall without anything hanging, and it smelled of mothballs and dust.
There was no other exit nor a small window. There was no escaping.
“Or emergency bunker.” I saw a small adjacent room. “That must be a bathroom.”
I felt the worry in her sigh when she sat on the bed. I sat next to her. “I’m so sorry, baby.”
“This feels like a terrible date.” She put a small smile on her lips as she held my hands.
“As long as we are together, it’s a date. We’re in Sicily in the most romantic villa with the most beautiful scene-”
“But we’re in a bunker, and I’m claustrophobic.” I heard a little shake in her voice.
“Shit.” I pulled her in my arms. “Don’t be scared. I’m here with you. Always.”
“I know. And I’m grateful you’re here with me. If things go smoothly, we’ll take a week away from this problem and go on our honeymoon.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Amen to that. We’re going to an island and get your ass tanned.”