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“I’m glad you do,” I say. “But we’re going to have to cross all of those bridges when we get there. For now, I just need to get Aria out safely.”
I look toward my men to see that they are waiting on me. Mattia gives me the thumbs up that we can go. My heart is pumping. I know that this will be tricky; I need to tread carefully.
I don’t know what I might do if I see Gabriele. He has made me so angry that I worry I might see red and do something that I cannot undo. As much as it pains me to say it, Gabriele needs to stay alive.
“And your men know not to kill anybody, right?” Dalton asks.
“They’ve been asked and warned,” I say with a chuckle. “But they seem eager for a fight, and I can’t make any promises.”
“Please, Edoardo,” Dalton presses. “We don’t have time to clean up a mess like that. When I send these recordings, the police won’t waste any time going to arrest him, and the news crews will follow shortly. I can’t clean that shit up if they see the bodies there.”
I nod resolutely, and Dalton knows that I understand.
“I trust you,” he says with a shrug.
“Thanks,” I reply. “Now, there’s no more time to waste. It is now or never.”
I walk back to my men and they wait for me to speak.
“I am sure that Mattia has briefed you all accordingly,” I say. “And it has been advised to me that I remind you all not to kill anyone. If you must stab them, stab them in the hands or feet or something. And if you must shoot them, shoot them in the arm or leg. Nothing lethal.”
I look up at Dalton, who rolls his eyes and nods.
“And any individual who brings Aria back to me unscathed will be rewarded with a pretty bonus, have I made myself clear?”
“Yes, boss!” they cheer.
The men seem excited at the prospect of a prize. I know that an incentive like that will work. Money can buy anything, as Gabriele has proven time and time again. But this time I will be the one spending, and I will be the one buying.
“Then let’s roll out,” I say.
The entire group piles into multiple black cars with tinted windows and we leave the parking garage in convoys. If Gabriele does have any men keeping an eye on me, he will likely be alerted. But if our intel is correct, and his men are focused on keeping Aria inside, then I doubt he’ll know about our mission until we get there.
Mattia is seated next to me, and he fiddles nervously with his hands.
“You’re not afraid of a fight, are you?” I tease.
“It’s not the fight that concerns me,” he says.
“Then what is it?” I ask. “Because this nervous behavior of yours has me on edge and I need to keep a cool head.”
“We’re going into this quite hastily,” he says. “And it’s not that I am questioning your idea, I think it’s the best choice we’ve got.”
“What is it that you are questioning then?” I ask.
“I just don’t know if it's a good idea for you to come with us,” he says. “Shouldn’t you wait somewhere safe for us to bring Aria to you?”
“Why would you suggest such an absurd thing?” I retort. “She risked her life for me, and I will do the same for her. It’s the least I can do. Besides, I want to see her with my own eyes.”
“I’m not concerned that you might get killed,” he continues. “In fact, it’s the opposite I’m worried about. What will you do if you come face to face with Gabriele?”
The image of Gabriele’s smug face flashes across my mind and I clench my fists. Mattia glances down at my clenched fists and sighs.
“I must admit,” I say quietly. “I will have a hard time not killing him. So you better make sure Aria is rescued before that happens.”
“But why don’t you just kill him?” Mattia asks. “Then he’s dead and we don’t have to do all this other work?”
I think it over for a little while. It would be satisfying to pull that trigger. And sure, all eyes will be on me but there has to be a way to make that go away somehow, I’ve seen it done before. But the idea of Gabriele dying is not nearly as satisfying as the alternative option.
