“What do you need from me?”
“I want these assholes in the ground, Ozzy. If anything goes south tonight, I want to make sure you put them there.”
“That’s no way to walk into that kind of situation, Finn.”
“I don’t foresee this going any way other than what I have planned, but if it does, I need to know that you’ll take care of Cataldi and keep Alessia safe. I’m sending you a file with everything we have on Farina and Cataldi. I just want your assurance that if I can’t finish the job, you will.”
“You don’t need to ask.”
It’s not that I don’t trust Amatto to take care of his daughter, but Mafia politics have already tied his hands once. Ozzy and the Black Roses have no such ties, and I trust him to do what needs to be done to end this if I can’t.
“Thank you. I’ll keep you updated.”
“It changes when you have someone who carries your heart in their body, doesn’t it?”
“It sure as fuck does.”
“Some men, like Cataldi, think it can make you weak. Like it’s a power they can hold over you. But he’s wrong. It makes you stronger and that much more vicious. That’s what stupid fucks like him and Farina will never understand. The second they threaten what you love, it wakes a beast inside of you that will only rest with ending their life. Money and power are all well and good, but once you find the other half of your soul, you’ll do anything to keep her safe. They’ll never understand, and that’s what will be their downfall.”
“You sure you’re not Irish? That’s very poetic.”
Ozzy lets out a small chuckle. “Nah. I’m just lucky enough to have found my other half, like you. Keep me posted, and if you need help, the offer stands.”
I thank him again and hang up, letting his words tumble around my head. Loving Alessia and being loved by her is like finding the other half of my soul I hadn’t even realized was missing.
And tonight, I’m going to prove that no one threatens that and walks away with their life.
Chapter twenty-one
Finn
Eoghan and Cillian got to the penthouse about thirty minutes ago. One of the perks of living here is the vast armory downstairs. We’ve loaded up everything in bags that we may need. I don’t necessarily expect this to be more than an extraction, considering he’s at his girlfriend’s apartment, but you can never be underprepared.
The Kevlar vest fits snuggly under my black button-down and my holsters are loaded with my trusty 9mm, ready to go.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I watch my wife sleep. It’s not a peaceful slumber. Her brows are tight, and her body twitches every few minutes. I’ve been next to her longer than I should be, but I can’t seem to tear myself away. Looking at my watch, I realize we should have left fifteen minutes ago. It’s now or never. I don’t want to wake her, knowing she’s going to hate the fact I’m leaving to hunt down the man who tormented her, but if I don’t tell her, there will most definitely be hell to pay when I come home.
And I refuse to believe I won’t be walking through those doors again soon.
“Alessia,” I say softly, brushing the back of my hand over her cheek. “Baby, wake up.”
Her eyelids flutter open, and for an all too brief moment, I’m completely hypnotized by her soft green eyes and the sweet smile playing on her lips. When she realizes I’m dressed, worry seeps into her gaze.
“Where are you going?” she asks, her voice thick from sleep and the tears she shed last night.
“We know where Orlando is. I’m going after him.”
No use sugarcoating it.
My wife blows out a deep breath and sits up. “What do you want me to do?”
“Nothing,” I reply, shaking my head. “The guards in the building are heavily armed, and I have men watching the cameras on the surrounding streets. No one will get within four blocks of the building without them knowing about it.”
The idea of leaving her still doesn’t sit right with me, but unless we were followed here, which I made damn sure we weren’t, no one knows she’s here. Hell, no one outside of our organization knows the setup we have here. But there’s always that tiny chance, and when it comes to her safety, I hate not having eyes on her at all times.
“If the power is cut like it was at the house, the doors will automatically lock you inside. You’ll still have power in the penthouse and the elevator to the armory. If anything seems even slightly off, go down there and lock yourself in. It’s the same type of setup as what’s at home. I’ll be notified immediately.”
“Are you worried someone will get in again?”