32. ~Dante Mancini~

His loves were suspicious.

Well, one of them most definitely was.

And particularly so.

Dannazione!

It wouldn’t be long now.

Time was running short.

I had just hoped for a little more of it.

I hadn’t wanted to broach the difficult subject matter until this war was won. It would most definitely serve to complicate matters. And, worse, it risked impacting Caspian’s steady hand and stable emotional state. His reputation for being unflappable was renowned, however the truth that I was keeping from him would test that beyond measure.

That control and steadiness was already reaching its breaking point with him as it was. There were only two things tethering him at the moment—his loves and envisioning the victory of this assault tonight. If either was compromised, however, I feared he would finally snap.

And that wouldn’t bode well for anyone. Not with the power that he wielded.

That power, the resources, the influence absolutely had to remain in the hands of somebody steady, shrewd, and benevolent. If not, it would prove absolutely catastrophic.

Everybody had weaknesses, no matter how formidable they were, how learned.

One of Caspian King’s was failure.

He didn’t do well with that.

Fortunately, given his abilities, he hadn’t faced a lot of it.

But the night Jameson and Laura King had been murdered was considered one such failure to him, despite him having been merely a child at the time. To this day, a part of him still believed he could have done something to prevent it. Given the way he saw such things, should this war not end in absolute victory, it greatly concerned me how he would react.

What he would do.

Movement approaching brought my thoughts to a grinding halt.

I swung my head a moment before my Capo, Matteo, appeared at the window of the black, unmarked van. Decked out in all black leather, he had his balaclava hanging out of his jacket pocket for now, his moussed-up spiky chestnut brown hair on full display.

I unrolled my window and ordered, “Report.”

“That King-Tech is the shit. It worked out really well. We were able to discern all enemy targets within the warehouse, as well as their exact positions. They’re gonna be lambs to the slaughter. I’ve just relayed the positions to our guys.”

“Show me.”

He was holding out his phone to me a moment later. I took it and scanned the plans of the facility, noting the locations of all thirty hostiles he’d marked down. I nodded as I handed it back to him. “Coordinate a concurrent assault. No wild shots. This is an arms facility. And I want the spoils.” Well, they would actually be for Caspian, but my organization didn’t need to know that yet. Especially not Matteo, for he wouldn’t take well to me appearing to have developed a benevolent streak. It was more than that. Far more. Something he would be made aware of soon enough. Soon all would be revealed regarding my true intent behind nurturing a friendship with Caspian King.

“Understood. It’s why we brought in the sharpshooters, Boss.”

“Maintain constant contact with me via COMMs.”

“Of course.” His gaze flicked to my two security members, one beside me, and one in the driver’s seat. “I’d feel a lot better if you moved further back.”

“You’d feel a lot better if I wasn’t here in person at all.”

“A fact I’ve made clear. It’s a risk, Boss.”

Yes, Matteo, nor my security team had been happy about me insisting on coming down to the site of the operation. Nor had they taken well to me being off-territory lately and beyond the esteemed protection of the Mancini Syndicate, each time having concerned meeting with Caspian.

I had many enemies.

For a man in my position of power and influence, it was par for the course.

Up until lately, however, I’d always been very cautious.

I didn’t have an heir, nor had I named a successor—Matteo wasn’t quite ready to take on that responsibility. So if I fell, the Syndicate would flounder and be ripe for the picking.

I’d had to make exceptions to my usual safe approach lately, however.

Elijah Bane wasn’t just any enemy to me, any target that needed eliminating.

It was far beyond business.

It was very much personal.

Not only had his actions six years ago taken my close friend from me, it had also upturned my carefully laid plans to such a point that I hadn’t been able to set them back on track.

His decision to eliminate the Kings that night had altered things forevermore and very much not to my liking.

He’d come at me that night too through his actions against them.

And since then, Elijah had only grown more dangerous and unhinged.

His death would be a mercy upon this world. Upon us all.

When I didn’t answer, Matteo persisted, “I told you, when we raid the place and drag that motherfucker out, I’d bring him straight to you. Nobody is gonna end his life but you. Our men are well aware of the rules of engagement.”

“He’s slippery. More than you realize.”

“Dante—”

“Go,” I ground out. “Commence the operation. Immediately, Matteo.”

He tensed at my non-negotiable tone, knowing well what would come beyond it should he push this any further after being given a direct command. “Yes, Boss,” he said, before rushing off to take position around at the north end of the warehouse.

I eased my locket from beneath my tactical vest, rubbing my fingers over it, something I did when I was anxious or on edge. It was either that or doing the same with a golden antique coin that I kept in the pocket of my wool coat. Alas, that wouldn’t have been conducive to tonight’s activities. I was wearing my worn leather jacket instead, a vest beneath, my pants even the same hard leather material, my soldiers clad in the same, albeit with balaclavas shielding their identities from view.

It wasn’t long before Matteo’s voice sounded in my earpiece.

“Moving in now, Boss.”

“Copy that.”

In the next few moments, the sounds of clanging metal, rushed footsteps, and several resounding thuds followed.

And then music to my ears.

Gunfire. Screams.

The enemy being ripped apart.

Time went by where I waited for word to come on Elijah’s capture.

On and on it went.

I’d determined fifteen minutes maximum for my people to take the facility and another ten for them to secure it. Upon news of an attack, Elijah’s modus operandi was to hide. There was a reinforced steel office space within the warehouse where he was slated to retreat to and do just that. That would require another three minutes for my men to breach.

That time came and went.

Minutes ticked on by and still no word came.

I didn’t want to communicate with Matteo in the midst of the operation. That could distract him and cause untold damage to him and my men whom he was leading within.

My phone rang and I pulled it out quickly to see Caspian calling.

I frowned. This wasn’t our protocol. He was much too early.

“Caspian,” I answered swiftly.

“Pull your people back.”

“Excuse me?”

“He’s not here, Dante. Elijah’s not fucking here. He took off. He knew we were coming. He could know about the chief warehouse you’re hitting too.”

“If that’s the case—”

“He could’ve stopped it, but he didn’t.”

“For a reason.”

“It could be a setup. Get your people out. Now.”

As I rapidly analyzed this fresh and unexpected intel to determine the best course of action, my phone buzzed with a text notification.

“One moment,” I told Caspian.

I heard him cursing as I pulled my ear away to read the message.

Blocked Number: Almost had me.

Dante: Elijah?

Blocked Number: The one and only. And your most definite better.

I gritted my teeth.

Before I could respond, he did.

Blocked Number: Kaboom!

I didn’t even get the chance to do a single thing before a thunderous explosion ripped through the warehouse, violent flames licking high into the night sky, debris flying everywhere.

Consecutive explosions followed in its wake, over and over.

I heard Caspian yelling down the phone, my security team calling for us to exit the vehicle and take cover.

I was being dragged out a moment later, just before the van was hit, and we were blown back several feet.

I slammed into a streetlight, headfirst.

And that was it.

Lights out.