Page 140 of Arranged

“Fuck, you have some balls. I’ll give you that.”

“Whatever you do,” I told him, “make certain the women get out alive. And promise me the children will be protected.”

He slapped a magazine into his Glock and threw an assault rifle over his shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’m pretty damn good with tactical shit myself. Ex-Marine. Just like you, I take it.” He grinned and I had to laugh.

“Something like that.”

“You can protect your family yourself. There are cameras on every side of the building. They’ll see us coming.”

“Is there a way to disable it to other sources?” I asked. He had no idea what we could be facing.

“Unfortunately, yes, there is.” Drago hissed.

“Not a problem.”

We moved closer to the building, the men following my lead. When we were close, I checked the cameras, making certain I stood right underneath, even grinning when I did.

“Balls like fuckin’ watermelon,” Drago gritted out.

He truly had no idea. What did I have to lose at this point? The door was unlocked as I thought it would be and I walked inside, keeping the grenade in my pocket. Gio had been baiting us. This wasn’t about turning Drago against his Don, but about killing the both of us. We were the only two men who could stand in his way.

Other than Dion.

My mind retreated briefly to the ambush at the restaurant. Gio had allowed Dion to be shot. Fuck.

As we headed further inside, the soldiers filed out, moving as I’d quickly directed them. At least they were damn good at following orders. Once inside, I took the lead with Drago only steps behind.

“Congratulations. You made record time,” Gio said. “I applaud you. I guess I should have done a full body search on your lovely wife. Then again, I was hoping you were stupid enough to announce your former training.”

I glanced at Rocco who already appeared uncomfortable. I wasn’t surprised to find additional soldiers standing with Gio, although I didn’t recognize any of them. If I had to guess, I’d say they had carvings on their necks. Gio was playing both sides, the Russians and the DEA.

Drago’s men had piled into the room. With weapons raised and tensions high, a single wrong move could start a firestorm.

“Maybe so. I think you know what happens from here.” I moved closer, taking my time doing so. I noticed Maria and Carmella out of the corner of my eye. They were tied to two chairs, both gagged, but Carmella was fighting with everything she had.

When she scraped her chair leg across the floor, she grabbed Gio’s attention. He nodded to one of my men I’d trained and the asshole glanced at me briefly before pointing the barrel of his weapon at Carmella’s head.

“I’d be very careful if I were you. I don’t think Don Lupini would like that you fucked with his daughter. And I don’t like you touching my wife.”

“Your wife? Does your wife know who you really are?” Gio paused and glanced around the room for dramatic effect. “Agent Jeffers Sanchez of the Drug Enforcement Agency?”

Drago didn’t flinch. But I sensed his eyes were on me.

The glares were instantaneous.

“That was a long time ago. I’m no longer that man. Not that you would care. Now, I suggest you let the women go and you and I can talk about this man to man.”

“We don’t have anything to talk about.”

“Oh, we don’t?” I laughed softly, catching Carmella’s eyes when I did. She was staring at me intently. “Have you told your men it’s actually you who’s been working with the DEA? Or that you used them to get what you want?”

Gio laughed. “That’s bullshit.”

“Oh, I don’t think so. I have plenty of evidence to confirm that. Photos showing meetings you had with various DEA agents.” While I had no clue if that was true, neither he nor the other men knew that.

I saw doubt in their eyes as Gio shifted from foot to foot. It was a telltale sign that I’d warned him about more than once. When he was anxious or trying to tell a lie, the nervous tic got him every time.

Just as I hoped it would today.

---