CHAPTER XLIV

I leaned back, a drink in my hand, the ice clinking as I took a slow sip. The sting of the whiskey slid down my throat, and I set the glass down on the table. My eyes scanned the room, taking in each of my men, my team, my family.

"We're not getting ambushed again," I stated. "Let's go over the plan once again and make sure every detail is accounted for."

Uncle Alessandro settled into the chair at the end of the U-shaped table, looked over the papers spread before him. "I’ll have our runners positioned to meet the cartel’s crew just beyond the border,” he said. “The moment our guys cross, they’ll swap out with theirs. This way, we maintain control over the operation.”

I nodded, fully in favor of the plan. We could not make any mistakes this time.

"We've set up three security convoys: a lead car, the shipment, and a tail,” Matteo added. “We're avoiding the main roads and taking back routes through the West Coast. Each convoy will have its own path, making it harder for anyone to predict our movements."

I nodded, tapping the glass. This way, they wouldn’t be able to anticipate which route to take, so we’d reduce the risk of a surprise attack.

“We've also arranged for additional support. More of our men will be traveling alongside and nearby," Lo continued. “We've got other guys embedded within the police force. Caprice and Mercedes will be our eyes and ears to ensure safe passage. We'll have no issues there."

"Good." I took another sip of my drink, my mind turning to our previous failure and making sure we hadn’t missed anything that could lead to the same outcome. "What about lookout points? I want every angle covered."

Luca responded, "We've got the east and west sides covered. Snipers will be positioned on rooftops."

"The drop-off has been changed as well," Lo added. "We're shifting guards and snipers to the new location. Any tails we might have will be expecting the original drop, so we'll use decoys there as a distraction."

Uncle removed his glasses and looked up, his gaze piercing. "The plan is solid, but I still worry about the risks, Nico."

"I know the risks, Uncle," I responded, my voice sharp. "That's why I'll personally be at the drop-off site. If they show their faces, we take out each and every motherfucker."

Uncle Alessandro's eyes gleamed, and a slow, wicked smile spread across his face. This world was ruthless, and I had to embrace the beast to survive.