Page 71 of Taming a Ruthless Heart

Joe DiLorenzo, tall and hulking with a square jaw covered in dark stubble, speaks up, his voice a low rumble.“That inside help?It’s worse than we thought.I tracked down the rat.It’s Jonathan’s son.One of your own men, Dave.”

The words hit like a punch to my gut.I’ve known Jonathan for years, trusted him with my life.The thought of his own flesh and blood turning on us, betraying Alexia, makes my blood boil.Tightening my jaw, I force myself to calm down and think.But every part of me wants to rip someone apart.

Shelby’s voice cuts through.“That’s how Igor’s men got in during the last attack.Jonathan must’ve opened the way.”

My fists clench against the table, but I don’t let my anger take the best of me.There’s too much at stake to let rage cloud my mind.

Max Cagliari, sharp-eyed and with a wiry build that belies his strength, interjects, “So why didn’t your man tell Igor where the safe house was?Why did Igor need to trace Alexia’s call with Olivia?”

Nikolai smirks.“Because Dave’s men know their calls are monitored.They’re careful.Igor needed a sure way in—so he used Alexia’s cousin.Blackmailed her into helping him get to Alexia.”

Guilt rises like bile in my throat.I’m the one who brought Olivia to the house.I was the one who pushed Alexia into a corner, made her miserable, forced her to reach out for comfort from the one person who has always stood by her.And now she’s paying for it, trapped in that hellhole with Rose and Pete, with Igor and his men doing God knows what kind of cruelties to her, to them.

I take a steadying breath, shoving the guilt down.“It doesn’t matter how Igor found her.We must focus on the fact that he has, and he thinks he’s untouchable because of it.But he’s wrong.”I glance around the table, holding their stares, one at a time.“Today, we’re taking him down.I’m not going to let Alexia, Rose, and Pete stay trapped in his nightmare one minute more.”

The room is silent, each man absorbing the weight of my words.Then, one by one, they nod, expressions unyielding.For Alexia, for the kids, and for this family we’ve built through blood and loyalty.

Joe’s rough voice breaks the silence.“What’s the plan for getting past his men?He’s got the place locked down tighter than a vault.”

I nod toward the blueprints Tommy has laid out.“We’ll hit hard and fast.Igor won’t expect an assault on the west side, not with the compound’s defenses focused on the main entrances.We’ll use that to our advantage.Tommy, you’ll lead the charge with Shelby.Max and Nikolai, you’ll take the perimeter, cover our backs in case of reinforcements.”

I turn to Ray and Joe, whose massive frame and sharp eyes exude a lethal calm.“You two are with me.We’re going straight to where Igor’s holding the hostages.”

Ray grunts, a fierce glint in his eyes.“Count on me, boss.”

And Joe adds, “My men are yours to command.”

“Ten minutes to contact your allies and crews, get your orders out.I’ll be right back,” I tell the men as I roll up the map of Igor’s compound into a tube and move toward the door connecting my office to the adjoining private study.

I let the door close behind me, shutting out their voices and the clinking of weapons being loaded, the sounds of men preparing for war.The quiet study is an oasis of stillness in the midst of chaos, illuminated by the faint glow from a lamp on the desk.It casts thin yellow lines across the dark wood and leather furnishings.The smell of old books and older whiskey fills the air; the familiar scent grounds me.

I step toward the mahogany desk where I open the map of my enemy’s stronghold, smoothing it out.With my index finger, I trace the lines, memorizing every exit, every weak point, as if burning them into my mind.As I try to focus on the next steps, my thoughts keep drifting away from strategy and tactics to Alexia and Rose.

A vivid image of Alexia’s face appears in my mind.Her eyes haunt me, the way they once looked at me, before everything shattered.Her scars pop in my head, a reminder of what she endured because I wasn’t there to protect her when she needed me the most.Guilt twists inside me, sharp and unforgiving.I push it down.Regrets aren’t useful now.Only action is.

Then I remember Rose’s innocent smile, her joyful laughter.The thought of her cuts deep like a double-edged blade plunging into my chest.That monster Igor dared to put his hands on what’s mine, to use my family as pawns in his sick game.These dark emotions churn like a fucking storm, menacing and relentless.

A brief knock on the door yanks me back to the moment, interrupting my thoughts as Tommy steps in.His face is set, serious, but there’s a quiet understanding and concern in his gaze as it locks with mine.He’s always been the one who sees through the cracks in my armor, the one who knows when the weight of our dark life is pulling me down and threatening to suffocate me.

“You good?”he asks in a low voice as he walks over to join me.He nods toward the bottle of whiskey on the bar and picks it up, pouring two glasses without waiting for my answer.

I take the glass he offers, studying him for a moment.Tommy has been through hell alongside me, seen the darkest parts of this life, yet somehow, he’s kept a piece of himself intact, uncorrupted.I wonder if he realizes how much I rely on him.

“I will be,” I say softly, taking a long sip of the whiskey.The burn anchors me.“Once they’re safe.”

He nods, his gaze unwavering.“We’ll get Alexia, Rose back, Dave.”He pauses, his hand tightening around his glass.“But you’re carrying a hell of a lot on your shoulders.Don’t forget, you’ve got us.”

I glance down, letting his words sink in.He’s right, of course.I’ve been leading these men for a long time, and they’re like family.But this is personal, deeper than any vendetta.

“Sometimes I wonder if they’d be better off without me,” I admit softly.The confession hangs in the air between us, raw.“Maybe the best thing I can do for them is get them out and let them go.”

Tommy shakes his head, a fierce light in his eyes.“You really believe that?”He steps closer, placing a firm hand on my shoulder.“Dave, you’re the only one who can keep them safe.Don’t ever doubt that.”

His words hit home.I’ve been second-guessing every decision, every move.But Tommy’s right.No one else can do this.No one else has as much at stake as I do.

I take another sip.“For them, I’ll do whatever it takes,” I promise.It’s a silent vow I make to myself.If this is the last thing I do, I’ll make sure they’re free of this dangerous life.

Tommy clinks his glass against mine, his expression softening.“We’ll see it through, brother.We won’t let that bastard win.”

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