“Most of Callum’s security consisted of ex-Leone soldiers or low-level petty criminals. None of them revealed who he truly was. I’m not even sure if they knew. However, I believe your theory about him being a bastard Leone heir. It makes the most sense given what we do know. And that wife of yours… You were right. She is the one for you.”
I folded my arms across my chest, grinning like a fool. “So you’ll listen to me now? Give me free rein to deal with Callum myself?”
“He’s positioned himself well. He’s made public statements, acting as the mayor’s confidant and closest friend. It will be hard to make him disappear without suspicion.”
“Surely that’s Alessio’s speciality; making people disappear without suspicion.”
We exchanged a knowing smile, and then my phone started ringing.Cristo.I’d only been handed it back five minutes ago, and already it was burning a hole in my pocket.
I frowned as I pulled it out, realising it wasn’t a call but an alert. A security alert at home. My heart stumbled over itself.
“What’s wrong?”
Knowing Aria wasn’t using her phone because Callum was tracking it, I immediately rang Max. He didn’t answer.
“Security breach at the apartment block. Max isn’t answering.” I looked out the window. We were still at least five minutes away, possibly longer in the rush-hour traffic.
I tried Belio next, but it rang and rang again.
“I’ll try Cami,” Gio said, pulling out his own phone. Her hysterical cries as she answered caused me to snap my arm across him and yank the phone from his hand.
“Camilla, it’s Sani. Where’s Aria?”
“Downstairs. In the garage. We were ambushed,” she whimpered betweensobs.
“Is she alone?”
“No. Max shoved me into the lift and told me to alert your men. They won’t let me go back down. They locked me in your flat.”
“Who was it? Who attacked?”
“I don’t know. It all happened so quickly. Aria’s friend came to the gate, and then men just stormed in, shooting.”
I threw my trembling hand over my eyes and tried to breathe. The thought of Aria in danger made the darkness pulse through my veins with the need for destruction.
“We’re on our way.”
I hung up and threw the phone at Gio before closing my eyes and clenching my fists on my knees. My body stiffened as I allowed the darkness to overtake me, atom by atom. Gio knew not to speak to me and instead began shouting orders and faster routes to our men before calling for more backup at my place.
Only when the car turned down the ramp into my garage did I open my eyes. The gate was damaged, still partially open, but the lower part was bent from impact. Before the car had even stopped, I flung open the door and leapt out.
For a moment, the entire garage seemed to freeze when they spotted me.
Smoke still lingered in the air. Bullet casings littered all over the concrete, and several of my cars were damaged, with spiderwebs of shattered glass across the windshields.
And then there were the bodies and the blood.
I swept the entire scene once, my heart racing like a caged beast inside my chest while I remained deadly calm on the outside. He took her. I already knew.
Gio was crouching in front of Max, who was propped up against a car tyre with one hand pressed over his bleeding side. Gio held the shirt he’d just taken off against a gunshot wound.
I didn’t need to say anything. One look at my face and he knew what I wanted.
“Callum,” Max gritted through his teeth. “Van. Black transit. Brought eight men. Left with five.”
“Which way?”
“Turned right.”
