Page 16 of The One
His face darkens. “As soon as I have Ella back.”
The poor girl will have to deal with a lot of his pent-up sexual energy. I’d normally suggest he let off steam with a random woman, but of course, no one else will do it for him now. When a De Marco finds his One he is loyal until his dying breath.
“So what’s happening in Rome that needs your attention? I thought I was handling the incoming shipments.”
“You are. But tonight we’re taking care of Rizzo. Uberto intercepted a message between him and the last stronghold of Molinaro supporters. He’s in Rome, trying to rally more backing.”
“It might be a trap.”
“I’ve considered that, but I think he counted on all our important people to be at the Conti wedding reception. Our troops in Rome are being pulled together as we speak. We need to act fast.”
He checks his watch, tapping his finger against the glass.
“We’ll leave for his hideout right after we land. Even if this was a trap, he won’t have our manpower,” Tiero adds.
“With Rizzo gone, the rest of the Molinaro loyalists should fall in line,” I comment.
If only it were that easy. It never is, though. There are always unpleasant surprises. Tiero knows it as well as I do.
“Is the plane ready for takeoff?” Tiero asks.
“Just waiting for Romeo. He should be here any second.”
Tiero rolls his eyes. “Fucking fuckboy,” he mutters under his breath as he climbs the stairs.
I pull out my phone to check where he is when I see his car approach. About time.
Tiero is in hunting mood and won’t tolerate delays.
When Rom jumps out of the car, laid back with a relaxed smile on his face, I motion for him to hurry. He knows me well enough to get my cue and sharpens up immediately.
“What’s going on?” he asks when he reaches me.
“You better call your regular Rome hook up. You’ll need the adrenaline release later on tonight.”
He rubs his hands together, taking the stairs two at a time. Unlike me, he gets a kick out of bringing down the opposition. It’s why I let him do it most of the time.
Okay, partly why.
We enter the cabin and sit down in the cream-colored leather seats. Tiero and Santino are across from us, spreading out papers and maps on the dark wooden table.
Rom joins the discussion of how to best access Rizzo’s hideout, but my gaze wanders through the cabin filled with our men until it finds Antonio’s daughter.
She’s chosen a lone seat toward the back of the plane, her head resting against the window as she watches the scenery glide past while the jet taxis to the runway. The soft twilight bathes her face in a golden hue, making her skin glow and eyes sparkle. Her excitement is almost infectious.
I think she’ll love flying.
I still can’t believe this is her first time leaving Sicily.
My first flight was shortly after I was born. And then, when I was two, we went on a long trip to America to visit extended family in Chicago. Not that I remember any of it. Butmammatold me for years that it’s where I first became friends with Maximo, our cousin. He’s my age, and even though we don’t see each other much, we’ve stayed in touch all these years.
We traveled often. My favorite trip each year was visiting Nona in Tuscany for her birthday.Mammawas from there, and we’d spend a few days just relaxing and celebrating with family.
Most years,papàcame with us. Life felt different there, more laid back.Papàtried hard to leave work behind and focus onmamma, Tiero, and me. It was wonderful. I felt like a normal kid, not the son of the Don.
Suddenly aware of my daydreaming, I realize my gaze is still on Mariella. As the plane accelerates and lifts off, her hands grip the armrest, fingers pressing into the soft leather.
Is it fear or excitement?
