“We’ll meet them head on,” Julian says. “If they’re coming like I think they are, then they’ll be stopped outside. Let’s gear up and head out. Tye and Getty, the two of you lock up the Grimaldi boys somewhere until this is all over. We’ll deal with them later.”
“What?” Gabe’s alarmed eyes veer to me. “Fuck that.”
Tye has already yanked Angelo to his feet. Blood drips from Angelo’s busted lip and he’s as dangerously wild-eyed as any cornered animal. However, Tye is extremely strong and Angelo can’t do much with his arms behind his back.
Next, Getty closes in on Gabriel with a menacing glare. “Are you gonna come along quietly or do I need to break something?”
Gabe tries to meet him glare for glare but his voice shakes when he says, “I can’t leave my sister.”
“We’re protecting Cecilia.” Getty cracks his knuckles. “And I don’t have the time for a fucking argument so this will be quick.”
“Cici,” my brother says and he’s practically whining.
The mood in the room is already deadly. If there’s the slightest chance Angelo has anything to do with what’s happening then there’s no way the Tempesta men will believe Gabriel isn’t also involved.
Maybe he is.
The idea is more than I can handle right now. Another thing I can’t handle is watching Gabriel instigate a brawl he’s sure to lose.
“Go with them,” I tell him. “I’ll be all right.”
His chin lifts and the flash of fury in his eyes is startling.
“Please, Gabriel,” I beg and then turn to Getty. “Just don’t hurt him.”
“I won’t,” Getty promises. “Not unless I have to.” The length of cord in his hands was torn from the thick drapes. He uses it to swiftly tie Gabe’s hands behind his back.
My twin throws me one last distressed look before being pushed out of the room. Tye drags a very irate Angelo out behind them and I feel some relief that a physical conflict between my brothers and the Tempestas has been subdued for now.
That relief is short lived when I see Julian is now strapping on a bulletproof vest while speaking quietly to Sonny, no doubt formulating a battle plan. I want to beg him not to go out there and I know that I can’t. In war terms, Julian is the general.
He looks up and sees that I’m watching. The look that passes over his face is sheer torment. He reaches for me and I rush into his arms, unable to control a small cry of despair. My cheek scrapes against the rough texture of his bullet proof vest and I choke back a sob.
Julian’s arms surround me and I never want him to let go. He rubs my hair. “No one is getting inside this house,” he says and kisses the top of my head. “Count on it.”
I nod my head, unable to speak. I thought I understood fear. But the prospect of losing him is something I absolutely cannot face.
“Dad?” Julian says. “Will you stay with her?”
All other conversations in the room grind to a halt. There’s no doubt what Julian is asking. Any other time, Cass would be leading the charge. Now Julian is asking the man he trusts and respects most in the world to stay behind and protect his wife and children.
“I’ll guard her with my life, son,” Cass replies. “You know I will.”
Julian tips my chin up, kisses me quickly and carefully lowers a bulletproof vest over my head. The vest is heavier than I thought it would be and the shape of my belly doesn’t allow it to be strapped tightly but I’m sure it’s better than nothing.
“Julian.” Fort tosses his brother a thick jacket. The other men are already all bundled up and heavily armed. In this weather, nobody will last long without proper winter gear.
“We’re ready, boss,” Sonny says from the doorway. “On our way out we can double check the main access points to make sure the steel doors are holding.”
It takes every ounce of my resolve not to fall into Julian’s chest and weep while imploring him not to go out there.
He kisses me once, so quickly that I don’t even have time to savor it. “I’ll see you soon, baby,” he whispers and briefly places his hand on my belly. “I promise.”
Cass edges close to me. “I’ll take her to the safe room,” he says, out of earshot of the others.
Julian nods. “Good.”
I didn’t even know there was a safe room. It doesn’t matter. Tye and Getty are back and I hear Tye reveal that my brothers are locked in the kitchen pantry. That’s really the best place for them right now.
