44. Angelo

Chapter 44

Angelo

I leave early the next morning. She barely stirs when I kiss her goodbye. "I'll be back soon, I promise," I whisper and drive in the predawn hours out to the butcher shop. I'm thinking about Claudia the whole way: about fucking her in that empty house, about telling her how much I want to be with her, about the future we can have together.

Assuming I come through this alive.

Davide's already there along with Seamus Quinn and Emilio. They've got guys spread out all over the neighborhood.

"Not a peep," Seamus says. "You guys sure it's happening today?"

"Might not be until tonight," I admit. "My source wasn't specific. But I trust him."

"He better be right." Seamus gets comfortable behind the wheel of his car. "It's hot out and I can't run the damn AC all fucking day."

We get into position. And nothing happens.

Waiting is the hardest part. It gives me plenty of time to think about my day with Claudia. I gave her all of my attention from the moment we woke up to the moment we went to bed, and it still doesn't feel like it was enough. I could've spent an entire lifetime with her like that, in and out of bed, sleeping with each other, sharing our feelings, laughing at jokes that aren't funny, basically just enjoying each other.

It was a good fucking day. Now she knows where I stand, and I'm not going to hold myself back anymore.

This thing we're building, this is what I want. She and I together for real. When I say she's mine, I'm not faking it—she's mine, my obsession, my new drug. She's the space between heartbeats, the silence in my veins, the quiet in my head, and I'll do anything to keep her.

Even if it kills me.

The day passes. We rotate in and out to avoid getting fatigued. I check in with Claudia, and even though I tried to keep today's operation from her, it's obvious she figured it out on her own. "Go over to Stefania's. I bet she'd be happy to get her mind off things too."

"I don't want to impose."

"Trust me, it'll be fine. And I'll be fine too. I'll see you later tonight, okay?"

Claudia sighs, but she doesn't argue. And when I get off the phone, there's even more waiting.

"Don't you dare fall asleep on me," Davide says over the phone. He's parked down the block and watching through binoculars.

I'm stationed on a roof across the street. I can see the windows, but there isn't any movement. Seamus is watching the back door, and he reported spotting a couple of teenagers kissing in the alley and a homeless guy taking a piss next to the dumpsters. Otherwise, nothing.

"I'm the last person you need to worry about right now. I've been wired all afternoon." It's past five now and the sun's just barely starting to sink across the sky. "It's going to happen soon. I can fucking feel it."

"You keep saying that."

"And it keeps being true."

"Tell you what. Let's make a bet. I'm saying nothing happens today, and I'll put a hundred on that."

"You're on. A hundred says today's the day."

"Keep your eyes open."

Every time a car comes close to the shop, I sit up straight and grab my rifle, but it's always a false alarm. Late afternoon turns to twilight which turns to full night, and I'm fighting back despair when I check my watch only to see that it's nearly midnight.

This can't be right. We were fucking careful. There's no way the Serbians found out about that guy we took out—he wasn't even directly involved in this operation. I had my best people clean the site up and do damage control. And he was so sure that Tommy was going to make his break for it today, but nothing's happened.

Time slips by, and that's when I hear it.

A deep, low rumble. Like a truck coming down the street. At least, I think it's one of those big garbage trucks until I get a better look, and an annoyed laugh rips from my chest.

An armored car comes to a grinding halt in front of the shop.

My phone rings. It's Davide, and he's laughing when I pick up. "Twelve-ten," he says. "Technically, it's the next day."

"Fuck that. You're not winning on a technicality."

"I'll take my hundred whenever you have a chance."

"Asshole. Hey, something's happening. Message Seamus and make sure he's ready."

"Will do." Davide hangs up and I grab my rifle. Through the scope, I spot movement near the front door.

It bursts open and people rush out. Guys I don't recognize scatter all over the place, some of them running for nearby cars, some of them sprinting down the block. I keep my eyes peeled, ignoring the distraction, and that's when Tommy emerges with Serena in tow.

For a heartbeat, I have him in my crosshairs. He's right there, exposed and open, and while Serena's close, it's not like she's close enough that I might hit her by mistake. But I need Tommy alive, because he knows too much about this operation and about these Serbians he's working with. I'm so fucking tempted to put a bullet in his head?—

But the door to the back of the armored truck opens and Tommy disappears inside with Claudia's sister.

I grab my phone and start sending a rapid series of texts through an encrypted chat program. I need everyone to know what's coming and to be absolutely ready. The armored truck's engine roars to life as the driver floors it, and the back door slams closed, hiding Tommy away in the belly of the beast.

I sprint down the stairs. The truck's already careening away by the time I reach my truck and jump into the driver's seat. I ram on the engine and slam down the gas, leaping forward, side-swiping some poor bastard's Acura, before fishtailing into the street. Ahead, the truck's slowing down at a stop sign, and it isn't hard to catch up.

Two more streets. My heart's racing. Tommy's right there, and he's also so fucking far away. He's so close to escaping, and if something goes wrong?—

I call Seamus with one hand. "Now!" I yell as soon as he picks up.

Something bright and metal flashes up ahead in front of the armored truck. There's the squeal of brakes as it tries to stop, but the big monster's weight keeps its momentum going forward, and it slams into the road spikes.

All four tires burst at the same time. They break with a sound like a bomb dropping. The armored truck swerves, hits a parked car, hits a parked SUV, and comes to a grinding halt in a scattering of ripped metal and broken plastic pieces. I leap out and shoulder my rifle, aiming down the sights, as the driver staggers out and falls to his knees.

I yank the trigger and the gun bucks. The driver's head explodes and his body crumples as a second man gets out of the driver's side, since the passenger's side is pinned. He looks around wildly in terror and gets two steps before I put another bullet through his back.

Seamus's guys swarm. They cover the truck, making sure it's empty, and Davide sets up a perimeter. If any of the other Serbians are thinking about getting involved, he'll make sure they don't get within so much as an inch of Tommy.

I reach the back of the armored truck, grab the handle, and yank.

The doors swing open. They're not even fucking locked, the arrogant prick. Tommy's sitting on a bench, blood running from a gash in his forehead.

Serena's kneeling in front of him, and he's got a gun pressed to the back of her head.

I raise my rifle but pause when a grin splits Tommy's face.

"You make another move and I'll kill the girl, and I bet Claudia won't be happy with that, huh?"

My heart's racing. Tommy pulls back the hammer of his pistol. Serena's eyes widen and tears streak down her face. She's shaking, her hands are in the air, and she's mouthing one word, over and over. Please, please, please, please .

I have a choice. A horrible choice. Let Tommy kill Serena, and I can probably take him alive. Or I can try to kill Tommy, and maybe I'll pull it off, and Serena will survive, or maybe I'll fuck it up and I'll lose them both.

But either way, I can't just stand here.