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“Because they’ve been in on trying to help us find her. They’ve been privy to our every goddamn move. They waited until some of the heat settled to make their move. I’m going to kill both of them and their entire damn family. If we can’t trust our own fucking men, then who can we trust?” Matteo yells.
So Matteo’s soldiers are behind this? But why? This betrayal works for my cover story, but something is not adding up. “They’re currently at the Pink Plaza Motel,” I notify. “I say we go there now and surround the fucking place.”
“Yeah, we can pull the fire alarm, then blast them when they’re forced to come out,” Stefano suggests.
Stefano is the youngest brother who thought putting his hands on her was okay. He’s only still standing because of her plea to me. “That’s just fucking stupid,” Matteo replies, shutting his idea down immediately. “What if they have your sister with someone waiting to be given the all clear? I swear you don’t use your head.”
Stefano doesn’t say another word, but his embarrassment is evident. “We go there ahead of time to stake out the place to see where they go prior to the meetup if at all. Once we know your daughter is safe, it will be open season.”
“Let’s go! Lennon, can you ride with me?” Matteo inquires.
“Sure. Kai can take my car.”
Once we’re in the car and heading to the seedy motel, Matteo shares why he wanted me to ride with him. “I have some rogue Mafia members in our midst, and I’m not sure if it’s contained to just Lorenzo and his brother Enzo,” he starts. “They purposely broadcasted that my princess was raped. The status of her purity was a message to me and all the Italian families, especially the Lombardis. Someone is trying to weaken us and our ability to form stronger alliances with the other families. Niccolò called to wish our family luck and ask if there was anything he could do to help after seeing the news. In the same fucking conversation, he called off his engagement to Aurora. No high-ranking heir or family will want her, which is the whole point. The ransom itself may just be a cover for this scheme.”
“You know that I just went through something similar with my clan,” I point out. “I suspect that someone is try to weaken us as well.”
I used this alone time with Matteo to spin the story of my rogue clan members. It helps for him to believe that someone is out for us both because I think they very well may be.
“Yes. That’s why I wanted to get you alone. I wanted to reach out to you when your clan was attacked, so I apologize that I didn’t. I’ve been just so consumed with finding my daughter.”
“Oh think nothing of it. I know you had other obligations. I’ve been trying to discover who was behind the attack, but so far nothing. Twenty-one of my clan were killed. That can’t be a coincidence.”
“You don’t have to give me an answer now, but I have a proposal for you to consider. I know the timing is shit, but I think it’s important that we move on this quickly if you’re amendable to what I’m about to say.”
“What’s the proposal?”
I wasn’t sure where he was going with this conversation, but I never expected this. “I would like you to marry my daughter.”
“What?” I’m caught completely off guard. I was still working on a strategy to convince him of this very proposal.
“I know that you’re not Italian, and I will receive a lot of hate for this, but I will refuse to marry my daughter off to someone unworthy of her. I know the Irish don’t care about things like virginity as much as a condition of marriage.
“No. It’s not a hard stop. We consider other things as well.” I know I want this too, but I can’t be too eager.
“I want us to join forces, Lennon, and find the motherfuckers who are out to ruin our families.”
What he really means is that he wants his daughter to be able to marry a boss—someone with real power and reach, and if it can’t be a Don, then a Clan Chief is the next best thing.
“I want to be considerate and at least talk to my brother Kai about this union of sorts, but I think you and I want the same things. I’m sure something can be arranged. For now, let’s make sure we get her home safely.”
“I always knew I liked you,” he says. “Let’s get these sons of bitches.”
The sequence of events happened rapidly and was executed perfectly. The two soldiers who took Aurora were amateurs at best. The only surprise was Amerie’s involvement. Because we arrived early enough to sit on the motel, we witnessed Amerie manhandling Aurora before shoving her into an apple-red Mustang. Some scrawny tall guy, who looked close to her age, got in on the driver’s side. Lorenzo and Enzo got into a black Dodge Challenger, followed closely by the other dumbasses who had Aurora. They pulled all the way into the alley of the drop point while Amerie and the guy drove past them to block the other entry to the alley. Matteo already had snipers hidden on top of the joint building, looking down to that alley. We just joined one of them on the rooftop. Kai and Aurora’s other brothers are on the rooftop across from us. I don’t blame Matteo for keeping this rescue mission to just my brother and I, along with his immediate family. He’s unsure who he can trust and won’t risk this going sideways. We’re all wearing surveillance earpieces, synced to the same line to hear everything in case Alessandro needs backup. Lorenzo and Enzo have worked for the Valentini and know their reputation better than anyone else. Did they really think it would be this easy? Lorenzo and Enzo exit their car with only a few minutes to spare before Alessandro’s arrival. They’re already leaning against the Challenger holding AR-15s when Alessandro exits his car.
“I hope you came alone,” Enzo warns as Alessandro approaches him on foot, dragging carry-on size luggage with the money. Only, they will never get to see it.
“I did what you asked. I just want to get my sister. The two of you betrayed our family, so I advise after you’re paid not to show your face around here again. You both know the limitless bounds of my father’s reach.”
“Are you really threatening us when we still have your precious sister in our possession?” Lorenzo chuckles. Alessandro continues to close the distance between them.
“I’m not making threats. I’m simply stating facts.”
“Stop where you are. You’re close enough. Leave the suitcase and back away slowly with your hands up,” Lorenzo instructs.
Alessandro does as he says while Enzo runs to retrieve the bag. Enzo lays the suitcase on its back, opens it, and inspects the mustard-colored currency straps of one-hundred-dollar bills. Each strap is equivalent to ten-thousand dollars, and a total of one million dollars is in the suitcase. Lorenzo makes quick work of counting the total currency straps after flipping through a few stacks to ensure it isn’t just hundred dollar bills on top. Enzo keeps his machine gun locked in on Alessandro while his brother counts. Once he is satisfied he gives a hand signal for the other car to release Aurora. She comes running down the alley toward her brother, but we have to wait because she is still in the line of fire. Lorenzo and Enzo are already back in there car attempting to get away, but Enzo has his machine gun pointed on her as she runs by. This was their lame plan to ensure her brother wouldn’t shoot. Once Aurora is close enough, Alessandro instructs her to jump into the back seat. Smart. As soon as he’s in the clear, he jumps in his car and puts it in reverse to head in the opposite direction of the two brothers.
Amerie is also reversing, but in her haste, she hits the dumpster, effectively keeping Lorenzo and Enzo from making the quick getaway they planned. This is our cue. Kai fires a man-held portable rocket launcher, successfully blowing up the two cars. The Valentini reach in the arms trade is unmatched, and he brought out his biggest guns for this mission. No need to stick around for the aftermath. Nobody is surviving that hit.
