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I stand reluctantly, pulling away from Taz. I hobble over to Gunner and Bull. I hold my father's eyes. Don’t need it, but I’m asking permission to tell the entire story. Gunner gives me an understanding nod, concern in his eye, which trails down to my patched-up leg and back to mine. I give him a small smile and wink, letting him know I’m okay. When I stand in front of him, he puts a hand on and squeezes my shoulder. Handing me the floor. His eyes look so tired, and I hate that for him.
No matter what, he doesn’t deserve this. I know I’ve given him a hard time, but he did his best with the knowledge and information he had back then, and yes, it’s back to bite him in the ass. But he did what he thought was best for everyone involved. I don’t like it, but I understand it. Facing the room, I fill in the blanks for those who don’t already know, which is most of the club.
“What I’m about to share with you does not leave this room.” When I receive a few incredulous looks, I raise a hand. “I know, I know, club business, and you are all brothers. I get that, but it needs to be said.” Looking around one last time. “My team is a part of the international group of assassins and mercenaries known as The Organization.” I make eye contact with everyone to ensure they understand the seriousness of my words. I’d hate to kill one of my father's brothers because they have big mouths.
“We got word that The Rossi family was coming for the club a few months ago. It took us a while to figure out why and to what end. That’s when we encountered a marriage contract between Beverly Berlusconi and Dominique Rossi, dated over thirty years ago. Knowing how the families work, we knew the contract was still valid. A daughter for a son. Even though Beverly acted as if getting pregnant would nullify and void the contract. She was right, to an extent. It was confirmed that she knew that if she were to have a daughter, that daughter would resume the contract. She kept that to herself and lived blissfully without fearing consequences. For many years, she ignored the elephant in the room until Don Rossi contacted Beverly’s new husband, demanding what they were owed. The Rossi’s wanted their Berlusconi. The problem with that is… the young Rossi is a psychopath. The Organization feels it would do more harm than good to unite the three families, the Rossi, the Berlusconi, and the Ferraris. The long and short of it. Those families combined would wreak havoc on the states. Their treachery has no bounds. They are into everything from drugs and not your everyday corner dealer shit, more like chemical weapons, weapons as in tanks and explosives that can level a football field, and human trafficking. Those fucks don’t care about age or gender. They buy and sell politicians and governments without thought. They are truly the bad guys. We don’t need them getting more power than necessary; marriage to unite them would be catastrophic at the highest level. Also, if Marco takes over, shit will go from bad to worse, and he doesn’t need more power.” I say, leaving what I mean for them to figure out.
I don’t tell them that even though they are a bunch of lunatics who lust for power, The Organization could handle them as long as they remain separate. The marriage would connect three of the five families, fortunately for me. I’m friends with one of the highest-ranking families, so that’s a plus. Also, there is some other shit I won’t get into yet. My goal is to protect Gunner and his club. This is personal, not just for my brother and me, but also for my mother. And what my mother wants, she gets. She is the Boss, right hand, after all.
“We got our hands on two of the attackers. They appeared to be the leaders of the merry band of dead guys. I, with the help of Turbo. Thanks, bro. You’re a strong bloke. Appreciate the assist.” Pain looks over to Turbo and gives him a salute. “They are currently tucked away nice uncomfortably and tight in your… torture chamber. So, if we need to fuck ‘um up to get the information, we can do that. What we got so far is that they are just hired guns. I can confirm that they were sent a file with information about the compound and were told to capture the girl and kill the club president.” Pain says.
“The information I collected from the ones at the house is that they were on a deadline. They have a week from yesterday to get the target to the meeting point. Once they completed their task, they were supposed to send a message that they’d receive final payment at the meeting point.” Blaze adds.
“I don’t understand what’s the rush. The Rossi family has waited nearly three decades to call in the contract.” Bull rubs his hand through his short brown hair, looking pensive. “Why the rush? Why now?”
Blaze and I stare at one another, and we have a damn good idea why now. More than a good idea. We have been monitoring the fuckers for months, learning everything we can about them. This situation with the contract isn’t the only reason they have gone silent. And from what we dug up recently, it is all the more reason for the rush.
“Optics,” Blaze and I say in unison.
“The little Rossi fucker has been under investigation by the Italian government for the disappearance of the Prime minister's daughter. And an engagement to a well-known family member, although somewhat removed, would look good for him. It will allow him to get the fuck out of dodge and hide out in the States while his daddy cleans up his mess. And an engagement with an American will give him the cover he needs. Two for one.” I say, looking at my father. It's weird to call him that, but that’s who and what he is. I can see his mind working and more questions swirling around his eyes.
“Fucking Christ!”
“This shit gets better and fucking better.”
“I knew I didn’t like that bitch from the jump.”
“Fucking hell!”
“Tonight’s attack served a purpose. It lets us know they are desperate. They are scraping the bottom of the barrel and will do whatever it takes to get their hands on Princess. We won’t let that happen.” I look at my father, Bull, and Vex, making sure that they see the determination and promise in my eyes. “Blaze and I need to contact our people and a few other contacts to see what they know and if they can lend a hand. We might cut this shit off at the pass. Beverly has no qualms about throwing you all under the bus to keep her and her new family in power on the East Coast. Turning her back on this family and her children has made that clear. We will handle her. I would suggest we hold off on calling her. My earlier suggestion was me jumping the gun. I apologize for that.” I say.
Taz stands from where he sat, grabs my hand, and pulls me to him. And I stare up at him with furrowed brows. He looks down at my leg and then up at my face. At that moment, I felt it throb. Fuck, this shit hurts. All the adrenalin is wearing off. I look down at my bare leg and see that the bandage that Doc had put on has a large stain of blood that seems to get bigger. Shit. Taz pulls me back to his seat without a word, sits down, and pulls me onto his lap carefully, wrapping his arm around me and pulling me back to his chest. “Stay,” he growls into my ear. And my body involuntarily shutters. I let out a breath of contentment and tried to ignore the pain in my leg. Why does this man know what I need? We barely know each other, but here he is.
Hello, Fate. It's me, Bellamy, calling. I have questions.
This is so damn weird. I will go with it because it also feels good to be cared for. In a matter of days, I’ve become a woman who enjoys being manhandled, ordered around, and taken care of. Maybe I was abducted by aliens, or his man juice has a drug that calms down my alpha female crazy. I look at my father, who is staring at Taz and me. His eyes are soft, and a slight smirk plays on his lips.
Aww hell.
Clearing my throat, I look to the room and continue my train of thought. “Let her come to us. She’s been playing it cool until now. And the club annihilating the mercenaries she and Marco sent will make her desperation skyrocket, but we will be even more prepared by the time she acts. She will do whatever she can to make her past fuck up right. She doesn’t want to lose her cushy lifestyle, and the Ferrari family will toss her ass out if she brings their standing with the families down. They may continue it now, but their grace will only last so long.” I say.
I pause and think about my next steps. I need to talk to Sam and Gabriella Barone and find out what they’ve heard. They’re a pretty fucking big deal within the Cosa Nostra in the states and Sicily. Although Sam Barone's territory is technically on the West Coast, his family has been running shit in the states for decades. They play in the shadows, but I’m more than a little aware of the power they wield. Their family has been around for generations, and many know the name but rarely see the face of the Don of Dons. People listen when they speak, and when they move, people get the fuck out of the way. That they could coordinate the assassination of a high-ranking Don on the East Coast without consequence and place a new Don without question says it all. They have a pull within the underworld. They have ownership of the Italian mafia; lucky for them, they also hold clout within The Organization.
“I have a friend out in California, Don Barone. He and my bestie may have more information that we need. We are good, and I hate to say it out fucking loud, but Sam and Gabriella Barone are better. Especially being who they are.”
“Aww shit… You know good and damn well if you call her, she’ll send that little demon child of hers and Talon’s to torture me. She’s still mad about me fucking Sam that one time. It was a one-time thing years ago, and we were both drunk. It happened. She needs to get over that shit.” Sin, who has been standing against the wall the entire time, quiet as a church mouse, pipes up about shit that is not important. Blaze, Rocket, and Pain let out a bark of laughter at her stricken face. Because my niece is a handful, she is good at what she does but lives to torture Aunty Sin, and I love to watch it all go down.
Gunner breaks through our laughing fest, bringing us back to the moment.
“Okay, okay, so don’t call the bitch.” He looks at me and lifts a brow. “Wait it out.” I nod. Then, something crosses his face. I can’t read. “And did you say Talon is the President of my LSMC Sacramento Chapter?”
“Umm yeah, his baby momma and I are besties. But that is a very long and super complicated story for another day. I’m surprised you didn’t hear about it. Well, no, I’m not. Gabriella is crazy private and probably threatened bodily harm if Talon told anyone outside his club about what happened.” I try to look innocent. “And she maybe doesn’t like you so much, so there’s that,” I say the last part sheepishly.
“I’m so fucking confused right now. I get they are a part of some super-secret organization, but what is the connection to us, the club?”
My eyes narrowed on the guy who spoke. Is he dumb? Was he not listening? Gunner doesn’t deem his question necessary as he stands up from his chair and slams the gavel down on the table.
“Alright, that is enough for tonight. There is a lot of shit that we need to talk about and prepare for, but it can wait until morning. I’m sure they aren’t aware that their little plan failed just yet, which benefits us. And thanks to my kids, we know more than they think we do. We are on lockdown. Get your families inside the compound.” He looks at Blaze and me. “Also, you never answered before about who called me,” looking at us for an answer.
