29. Nic

29

NIC

W ho knew life could be filled with so much joy? That’s the only word I can find to explain it. I’ve been content. Sometimes excited. But never have I felt infused with delight, wonder, elation.

The same day I suspected Bella might be pregnant, I got us a test, and I’ll never forget the emotion that overwhelmed me when I learned she was carrying our child. I’ve never cried in my life… well, not since I was a kid, but tears filled my eyes to see that stick confirm a life growing inside Bella.

Since then, every moment of every day has been brighter, shinier. It’s fucking fantastic. Even our small, intimate Thanksgiving dinner was the most festive I’d ever had.

The only cloud in our lives is my father. But today, that changes. Only blue skies. In a few hours, I'll meet my father in Buffalo. I will end his life at the place he’s destroyed so many other lives—the docks where he traffics women.

The plan to kill my father is solid. My most trusted men are already in position around the warehouse where my father plans to meet Don Caruso. My father suspects nothing. Years of resentment, of watching him destroy lives, have led to this moment. I should feel more conflicted about killing my own father, but his attempt on my life, his threats to Gia and her children, and the monster I know he'd be to Bella and our baby make this necessary.

As I make the five-hour drive from New Jersey to Buffalo, New York, I reflect on all the pain my father has caused. Failing to prolong my mother’s cancer treatment, opting to let her die sooner. I was only twelve.

The way he drove Gia's mother to disappear , likely killing her. To this day, I carry guilt that I didn’t stop it, nor have I been able to find out what really happened.

Then there are the countless women my father has broken and discarded. Sold and traded. The weight of his sins settles on my shoulders. For too long, I've played the dutiful son while plotting behind his back. Building alliances. Gathering intel. Waiting for the right moment to strike. But until Bella, I hadn’t had the courage to take action. But that ends today.

I’ll terminate my father’s reign of terror and take over his business. I’ll build it into something stronger, more resilient, more enduring for my child, should he or she decide to follow in my footsteps.

I laugh at the idea of a daughter heading the family. Traditionally, it’s not done. At least not outwardly. But there were plenty of women in the past who ruled, often mercilessly, from behind the facade of a man.

When the time comes, the business will be modernized and operating in the gray areas, the fringe to avoid the eyes of the law. And of course, no more trafficking. No more treating women and children as disposable commodities.

As I get closer to my destination, I picture the future stretching before us—Bella pursuing her dreams while helping me run legitimate businesses. Our child growing up knowing only love and security. Gia and her twins finally safe from threats and manipulation.

A surge of determination flows through me. I am ready to take my rightful place as head of this family. Ready to build something better from the ashes of my father's dead body.

I get a text from Max, confirming all is in place and that he’s keeping Gia and the twins even closer today. If everything goes tits up and I die, he’s also prepared to take care of Bella, getting her to safety with a new name in a new location. God, I hope I survive. I really want to see her grow large with our child, watch our child grow.

My hand twitches to call Bella, wanting to hear her voice one last time before everything goes down. But I can't risk it. My father has eyes and ears everywhere, and one intercepted call could blow everything.

I reach Buffalo in the early afternoon and use a fake ID to check into the hotel. The meeting takes place tomorrow morning, so I have tonight to rest and psych myself up.

My phone buzzes with another update from Max. Everything remains in place. The pieces are set. Now I just have to execute the plan.

The next morning, I pull into the warehouse district near Buffalo's docks, parking between shipping containers that shield my arrival from view. The scent of Lake Erie's industrial waterfront fills my nostrils—diesel fuel, fish, and rust.

My most trusted soldiers emerge from the shadows—Vinny, Tommy, and Marco. These men have been loyal to me for years, quietly supporting my vision for the family's future while pretending allegiance to my father.

"The warehouse is clear," Vinny reports.

Tommy shifts his weight, checking his weapon. "Caruso's advance team did their sweep an hour ago. They'll be back with him in forty minutes."

"And my father?" I scan the area, working to keep my nervous energy at a minimum.

“His plane landed and he’s on his way.” Marco blows out a breath. “I wish we had more men, Boss.”

“He’d notice if too many of my crew were along. As it is, I imagine he wonders why you volunteered.”

“We could get an Oscar for how well we’ve convinced him we’re loyal to him. You’re in the wind, running like a pussy.” Tommy grins and then his features drop. “You’re not a pussy. We just?—”

“I get it.” I pat him on the shoulder. “I’d like to get this done before Caruso arrives. I’d rather deal with him after.”

“I’m sure he’ll deal with you. Once it's done, the other capos are ready to fall in line behind you,” Vinny assures me.

“And those that don’t…” Tommy holds up his gun. I hope it doesn’t come to that, even though I suspect it will.

My stomach churns with nervous energy, but I keep my voice steady. "Everything we've worked for comes down to the next hour. You all know what's at stake."

Images of Bella, Gia, and the twins flash through my mind. My unborn child. All depending on this plan succeeding. For a moment, I feel sick. I really don’t want to fuck this up.

A car enters the area. “Let’s go,” I say.

The bitter lake wind cuts through my coat as we move between shipping containers, staying in the shadows. Vinny takes point while Tommy and Marco flank our sides. The early morning darkness works to our advantage. The dock workers won't arrive for another hour.

My hand rests on my gun, mind clear and focused.

Marco signals that the perimeter is clear. We slip inside through the side entrance where Tommy has already disabled the alarm. Like Marco, I’d rather have had more men. Shooters in the rafters. Exit routes covered. But I couldn’t involve too many men from my crew without my father taking notice.

Everything is set. Now we wait for my father to enter. The warehouse air feels heavy with anticipation. It also seems too quiet. I stop, listen. I have no reason to think something is up, and yet, my Spidey sense is tingling.

Something's wrong.

I signal Marco to hold position.

"Vinny, those security sweeps Caruso's men did…"

"Confirmed by our spotters," he says, but his voice carries a note of uncertainty.

I pull out my phone to text Max, but there's no signal. Not even a single bar. The dread solidifies in my gut.

“Are we sure they were Caruso’s?”

“Who else would they be? They weren’t ours.”

But they could have been my father’s. His organization is vast. His local crew wouldn’t be known to my men. Doubt fills me. It’s time to retreat and regroup.

I raise my fist, signaling my men to fall back when the first flash of a red laser sight appears on Vinny’s chest.

The warehouse erupts in gunfire. Vinny takes three shots to the chest before I can even shout a warning. His body drops. Tommy dives for cover but catches a round to the head.

Fuck!

Marco manages to return fire before going down.

My muscles move on autopilot as I roll behind a shipping crate. Bullets ping off metal all around me. The acrid smell of gunfire fills my nose as muzzle flashes light up the darkness.

"Bring him in alive!" a voice shouts. "Don Nardone wants to handle this personally."

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Ice floods my veins. This isn’t my ambush. It’s my father’s. But how? Who turned? Who was feeding my father information? The possibilities spin through my mind. Mickey? One of his men? Surely, none of my men. Good men who are now dead because I led them into my father’s trap.

My hand shakes as I check my magazine. Only half full. I don’t know how many men my father sent so I can’t be sure whether I can fight my way out.

"Come out, Niccolo. Make it easy on yourself. You know there's no escape."

He's right. Although I could force them to kill me, which would annoy my father if he wanted to kill me himself. Then again, he’d probably get over it.

And if I die, I can’t protect my family.

The click of a phone being dialed echoes through the warehouse, followed by the electronic hum of a speaker.

"We have him cornered. You’re on speaker."

My father's gravelly laugh fills the space. "Niccolo, my ungrateful bastard son. Did you really think I wouldn't know about your little plan? You’ve always underestimated me."

The mockery in his voice makes my jaw clench.

"You've always thought yourself so clever," he continues. "Playing the role, but always plotting behind my back. And now you'll die a traitor to the family, trying to murder your own father."

My hand tightens on my gun as rage and helplessness war inside me. He's orchestrated this perfectly, turning my own plan against me.

"It's almost poetic," my father says, satisfaction dripping from every word. "The son who thought he could replace me, dying alone in a warehouse, branded a traitor by the very men he tried to turn against me."

My father's taunting voice continues through the speaker, but my mind races through possibilities of escape. There has to be a way out. I need to get back to Bella, to protect her and our child.

"You should thank me, Niccolo. When I kill you, it will be self-defense. After all, you came here to murder me." His laugh echoes off the metal walls. "The other families will understand. A father protecting himself from his treacherous son."

"You tried to have me killed first," I spit out, though I know it's pointless to argue.

"Ah, but who will believe that? Especially since you kidnapped my bride.” There's a pause, and when he speaks again, his voice carries a cruel satisfaction that makes my blood run cold. "Speaking of your pretty little Bella…"

My stomach drops.

"She’s lovely. So young. So nubile.”

A woman's muffled scream carries through the speaker. Bella's scream.

Horror and rage fill me as I hear Bella cry out again. The sound tears through me, ripping me to shreds. All my careful planning, my preparations, and still my father is winning. Still, he's hurting the people I love.

"Touch her and I'll?—"

"You'll what?" he cuts me off. "You're surrounded, outnumbered. But I’m not completely heartless. My men have instructions to bring you back here. I’ll let you see her before I kill you.”

The magnitude of my failure crashes over me as I realize I've not only failed to protect Bella, but I’ve also delivered her and our unborn child right into my father's sadistic hands.