I bite my tongue, I blink rapidly, I pinch my arm, and still, the music continues.
It pauses, and Nico’s voice echoes through the awful, empty space. “You play so beautifully, Carina.”
The music resumes.
I lift my hand, cover my mouth, and scream against my palm.
CAVALRY
The sun is sinking when Misha calls again.
“You have the address?”
“I just sent youanaddress. I don’t know how accurate the signal is, and I haven’t had time to check property records. But that was the last location. I thought you’d want to know right away.”
“I do.” I walk inside the villa, heading toward Salvatore’s office.
“There were thousands of records, and I had to get through the company’s encryption, too, not just the hospital’s. Also, the device is no longer transmitting any signal, so if they took it off and then moved them …”
“Understood.”
“I’m headed back to my hotel now. I’ll try to find out anything else I can.”
“Thank you,” I tell him, then hang up and enter Salvatore’s office. “Let’s go.”
Enzo scrambles off the couch in the corner where he was resting. “You know where she is?”
“Maybe.”
Salvatore’s already on his phone, barking orders. Everyone was waiting for this moment, but there are still last-minute preparations. There are enough munitions in what formerly served as a dining room to outfit a small army, which is essentially what’s assembled. It’s strange, suiting up with a group of strangers instead of a familiar team, but I don’t catch one disgusted look or snide comment aimed my way. Some of these men must remember Carina’s mother’s murder. The worst sort of coward targets someone who didn’t choose this life. We have a common enemy for the time being.
I climb into the first SUV. Salvatore is driving, and Carina’s brothers are crammed in the back seat.
“Issue a no-kill order for Morello,” I tell Salvatore, who’s wearing an earpiece that delivers to every channel.
The rest of ours are segregated into teams. A tech group is pulling satellite images to give us a better advantage going in, but divide and conquer is a tried-and-true strategy. They shouldn’t be expecting us to have found them so soon, and we’re headed in with fifty men. Numbers should be on our side.
“She’s my daughter,” he argues.
“She’s mywife. He’s mine to deal with.”
Thinking about the different ways I’ll kill Nico Morello is the only activity that’s soothed my simmering fury. No stray bullet is going to snuff his life out. His death will be slow and excruciating.
Salvatore gives the order.
“I get to help,” Enzo says eagerly.
“No. She won’t recognize most of the men.” We’re all wearing tactical gear. “Find her, get her out, and take her somewhere safe.” I glance at Salvatore. “That goes for you too.”
I don’t need anyone to tell me it’s unusual for the boss to be taking part in a mission like this. If Misha is right and this is the correct location, it will be well guarded. It’s probablyMorello’s main dwelling, his hidden estate, where he can lower his guard. We know nothing about the property, haven’t done any surveillance or research. It’s a risky operation under the best circumstances, meaning there will be casualties on our side too.
“Did you call more men?” Leo asks suddenly.
I peer through the windshield. Six more SUVs are headed this way, on the opposite side of the gate.
“No,” Salvatore states grimly.
Luca curses.
