Page 46 of Mafia King's Forbidden Obsession

“Chi è questo(Who’s this)?” I ask, pointing to the man with a flick of my finger. Russo’s stance is guarded, his shoulders squared. The way he leans in yet keeps a wary distance tells me he doesn’t fully trust the man he’s conversing with.

Elio’s eyes follow my fingers before he stops his rhythm on the desk. “Could be a small-time drug dealer. Russo’s been spotted doing business with similar men. I’m guessing he doesn’t want to draw any attention to himself,” he says, while my eyes and hands work together, sifting through the other photos. “He’s still wanted by the police.”

“Get me info on this new guy.” Elio acknowledges the order with a nod. We will leave no stones unturned when it comes to Russo.

I take a keen interest in the next photo, a red apartment building with most of its paint peeled off. “Russo’s?” The four-story structure is cloaked in green shrubs that emerge from the cracks in the walls.

Elio takes one look and grins widely. “Sì (Yes).”

I clench my fist tightly, anger mixing with my excitement. Russo chose an excellent hideaway. Nothing about the place screams ‘criminal mastermind’.

But he’s not hidden from me anymore.

My focus shifts to the address at the base of the luster paper. “334 Fieldstone Drive, Riverdale, NY 10471,” I narrow my eyes on the paper, squeezing the edge like it’s Russo’s neck.

My fingers itch to have themselves around the bastard. I can’t wait to see who’s really behind all this.

Unclenching my fist, I lift my eyes to my right-hand man. There’s a mix of anger and excitement in his expression, too. “Get the men ready. We’ll take him down tonight.Partiamo dal crepuscolo(We leave at dusk).”

Elio nods almost immediately.

“Tieni tutto nascosto(Keep everything under wraps),” I don’t take my eyes off the picture. “This operation is highly confidential, only the men involved should be aware of it.”

That’s how the cartel will be run from now; only the men assigned to a task will be privy to information about that particular task. I need to be more careful, especially after the incident with the mole.

Elio obliges, “I’ll have everything set within the hour.”

I look at the digital wall clock– 5:57 p.m. A delightful thrill slowly hums in my blood. In a few hours, everything that’s led to this moment will finally be worth it.

When Elio gets up to leave, I stop him, recalling one last thing. “Aspetta(Wait).”

The shuffle of his feet comes to a halt as he pauses, looking back at me. “I need every security personnel on duty today thoroughly checked. Ensure they had nothing to do with the intruder, then have them punished. Come up with something deserving.”

Elio gives me a sharp nod. “Ho capito(Got it).”

The intruder was skilled enough to maneuver my guards. Two of them were found dead in the mansion, the two by her door. Three guards were also found dead in the backyard. The bastard had snuck up– climbed– without drawing the attention of many guards and broken in from the top floor– Raven’s floor.

Still, I want the guards all vetted. Another mole is a risk I can’t afford. I hate to think what would’ve happened to her if I didn’t hear her screams.

As he leaves, I go back to flipping through the rest of the file. The investigator had included written notes on Russo’s routine, and his movements. He had noted that Russo always has dinner in his flat by 9:30 p.m., so he should be home when we get there. Tonight, we will put an end to this madness.

I stash the papers in my drawer and pick up my pen. There were still other matters that needed attending to.

The knot twisting in my stomach loosens, my focus shifting as the distraction pulls me in for the next few hours.

I sign off on the last of the paperwork, the scratching of my pen filling the quiet room, when the door creaks open. Elio steps in without waiting for an invitation, his eyes meeting mine. “It’s time.”

***

The tension is high when the car stops a few blocks away from Russo’s apartment. Without wasting time, I jump down, and three other men, including Elio, follow.

“Stay in the car. Alert us if you notice anything out of the ordinary,” I order the driver. “This should be quick.”

With a nod, I signal to the others, and we crouch toward a dark alley that faces the building. Our sleek fitted jackets and cargo pants blend seamlessly into the darkness. Elio and I take the lead while the remaining two men follow closely behind.

Adrenaline pulses through my veins as I scan every corner of the surroundings. The last thing we need is to be ambushed by Russo himself, a man who’s equally as dangerous as we are.

Slowly, I come to a stop at the end of the alley, pressing myself against the wall. I look back to see the three other men mimic my stance and turn to assess our position.

---