Page 2 of Revenge of Sin

He turns to me.“Our guys are out on the highway.They have a car following a black limo they believe has Anna in it.It’s dark, but one of our men had his buddy run the plates, and they tie to a place up north.And they’re heading toward Jersey City.I’d put money on it being them.”

My chest pounds with unprecedented speed.“Don’t fucking lose them.”

Nicolo doesn’t look up from his phone, just keeps on typing while giving me a nod.“They’re in heavy traffic now.It’s going to clear in about ten minutes, and we’re going to have about twenty minutes of minimal activity on that stretch of road.”

His head turns and his dark eyes meet mine.“What do you want them to do?”

I know what my brother is really doing, giving me a chance to pause, to back out, to not get involved with another crime family’s act of revenge.To keep our family out of the war.

Six months ago, my answer would have been different.Before I carried Anna Cassone from that stench-filled place they had her holed up in, barely alive in my arms after being left for dead, and only just a few nights ago held her in my arms again, this time passionate and willing, and tasted the angel I’ve been dreaming of ever since.

No, like it or not, we are very much already in this fucking war whether we like it or not.

Anna and her sister Sophia Cassone are not the reason Gallini’s brother is dead; may the sorry son of a bitch never rest one moment in peace.But I’m also pretty certain that’s not how Gallini sees it even though he should be blaming old man Cassone and his brother Barcelo.

The way Barcelo left Anna before he died, I’m pretty sure he thought he had killed her too, or that she would die soon after he left her there to rot in that fucking hideout.

As did everyone in the fucking crime community, because that’s what the Roselli family told people.Which is probably the only reason Massimo Roselli got away with making everyone, including me, think Anna, his sister-in-law was dead.

Massimo and Sophia even had a fucking funeral and all to make sure everyone thought Anna was dead.The angel is very much alive and was supposed to be in my bed tonight but instead she runs.The soldier who got the license plate of the vehicle she got into, and her friend’s account of the vehicle she was supposed to get into—fuck, it’s the only way we knew she was kidnapped and in the back of a black car carrying a man who’s about ready to learn exactly what happens when you fuck with a DeLuca or take what belongs to them.

“Take the fuckers out of commission but try to keep them alive if possible,” I growl.“Just keep Anna safe.One hair on her pretty little head gets mussed tonight and I’m going to hold them personally fucking responsible in a very ugly and personal way.”They better pray the men get to them before I do, because there will be no mercy from me.

My brother’s eyes go wide, but he nods and doesn’t argue.Nicolo already said his piece about my obsession with Anna a few days ago.He knows that we’re taking this all the way now.There’s no turning back, no not being part of the crime family war that will ultimately ensue when whoever took Anna gets wacked and we take her back.

There’s no way I’m letting someone come onto the DeLuca property, take what I already consider to be mine, and get away with their life.Tonight, the Gallinis or whoever they paid are going to pay the ultimate price for fucking with her and with us.

There’s no doubt in my mind the Cassone rivals, the Gallinis, are behind this, specifically Bastian fucking Gallini.They aren’t going to let it end.Barcelo’s brother is going to want his pound of flesh, and I know exactly how he’s going to want his revenge.The thought of that fuck with his grimy hands on Anna twists my stomach into knots.“Drive faster.”

Terry doesn’t hesitate, just accelerates faster than he was already going, passing one car after another until the exit ramps spread out and the traffic thins to little or nothing.

Nicolo reads a message on his phone a few minutes later.“They’ve got the car.Driver’s dead.”

They didn’t have a choice.”

“Anna?”

“She’s alive, but unconscious.Our soldiers said they overpowered her with some kind of chemical in the back of the car.She’s not coming around any time soon, Vincenzo, but she’s sure to be wigged out when she wakes up.”

My jaw tightens at the thought of her waking up scared and alone.“How far?”

Nicolo looks down at his phone and back up at me.“The way Terry’s driving, we’ll be on top of them in two minutes.”

I nod, and true to his word, a black car is pulled over to the side of the road just up ahead.Our soldiers must have put the car’s hazards on.To anyone else it will just appear that someone’s pulled off with car problems.In this neck of the woods, it’s not likely many people are going to stop.They may use their phone to call it in, but nowadays, no one’s going to pull over and take the chance of getting robbed, kidnapped, or stabbed.

Especially in this desolate of an area.All kinds of bad things happen here, and I would know firsthand exactly what goes on.

I’m out of the car the minute it pulls to a stop.One of our soldiers is leaning into the back seat far too close to Anna for my liking.I grab his shoulder rougher than intended.“I’ve got her.”

His eyes go wide when he sees me.“Yes sir, boss.”He steps aside, and I gather Anna into my arms, rescuing her for the second time in just over six months, pressing her limp body against my chest, thankful that this time she hasn’t been battered and beaten like the last and they’ve had no time to do anything else or get her to their lair.

I walk with her back to the car, and Nicolo holds the back door open, closing it as I settle inside with Anna, keeping her cradled on my lap as Terry and Nicolo get back into the car.

The DeLuca family has been fortunate.Until now, we haven’t had to fight for our territory, too rich, powerful and in control to come up against other crime families close enough in the state to want the area.

But the tides are changing…

The Sarones must be working for someone with more power than themselves to have tried hitting our club last week.And now this.Nicolo’s not wrong in his assessment that I’ve just brought a war to our door, but my guess is we were long overdue and after the Sarone’s attempt last week it was coming anyway.