Chapter Twenty

Serafino

"D elilah!" I barked into the phone, but all I heard was what sounded like the dull throb of an engine and a low chuckle.

"Fuck!"

"What is it?"

"I looked up at Ethan's shocked query, my eyes clashing with his before I glanced around the sitting room where my other brothers stood watching me with their drinks in hand, their brows furrowed and their stares narrowed and assessing. Valentino and Carlo were the only ones who looked calm and composed.

I squeezed my eyes shut. I'd forgotten I wasn't alone. I'd always been the I couldn't give a fuck guy, not this rollercoaster of emotions man who couldn't contain his grief.

I was only glad Isabella and Salvatore were absent and in their own wing of the house—the one they claimed when they weren't at the Costa house—along with Sabrina who was in the nursery with her son. I presumed Chantilly was in the nursery too, she'd become good friends with Sabrina and loved helping out with Pietro. I didn't want to frighten them more than they already were with the supposed attack waiting to happen.

I grabbed a fistful of my hair, growling low in my throat as I explained hoarsely, "Delilah has been taken."

Ethan sucked a breath through his teeth. "You're sure?"

"Never surer. Our fucking casino director is a traitor."

Ethan's voice turned sharp. "Jarrod?"

"The one and only."

"We gave him everything," Ethan growled.

"It clearly wasn't enough."

Valentino stepped closer. "You have a tracker on her phone?"

"I do." I refocused on Ethan, though rage was misting my vision red. "I need to get her back."

Ethan nodded. "Of course you do. But you're not going alone."

I shook my head. "I don't want anyone helping me, not if it will expose Pietro and your wife to the Irish dogs."

"Serafino is right," Carlo said in a low voice. "No one should go running headfirst into a battle for some worthless whore—"

I was in his face before I'd even realized I'd taken the steps to get to him. I thrust out a hand and curled it around his bull neck. "She isn't worthless," I snarled. "She's everything to me. Say one more bad word about her and I'll kill you with my bare hands."

"Serafino, step away," Ethan commanded softly. "You're my brother but even I can't protect you when you go and make threats to my consigliere."

I glowered at the man who'd dared to demean my woman. It was almost impossible now to believe I'd been terrified to hand my heart over to a woman only for her to crush the life out of it, when losing her permanently would accomplish that task far more effortlessly.

I released my grip from Carlo's throat, ignoring him then as I looked around the room at my brothers and Valentino. "I'm leaving now. Come with me if you want, but I don't expect anyone to put their life—"

"Just try and stop me," Alessandro interjected with a glint in his eyes. "You'd do the same for any of us."

Evander unholstered his gun and checked it. "Count me in."

"Let's put some holes in those Irish bastards," Valentino growled.

Carlo crossed his arms and gritted, "This isn't a good idea."

He didn't need to tell us that. As I headed to the elevator that would take me to the rooftop helipad, I couldn't help but be grateful for the dangerous and deadly men backing me up.

I only hoped I wasn't leading them to their graves.