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He swallowed hard and shook his head. “I get your point. I need their names and anything you have.”
“I’ll forward everything you need. I want answers, Stephen. I will get them.”
“Yes, sir,” he said then gave me a military salute.
Grimacing, I headed out of the room, finding both Isaac and Rocky talking with Francesco in the office. When I walked in, every man went silent. What I didn’t see was the driver being held at gunpoint.
“Where is he?”
For the first time in as long as I could remember, Francesco appeared concerned.
“He got away,” he admitted. “We were too late.”
When Mike entered the room, I tipped my head in his direction. It would seem everyone was waiting to see what I’d do.
“Hey, Dan. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have upset her,” Mike said while remaining exactly where he was.
“I’m sorry, Mike, but at this point your apology doesn’t mean shit. We are leaving in eight minutes.”
I sensed every single man in the room was antsy, unused to seeing me this way. Well, they better get used to it. I’d just crossed a final line that my lovely Madisen had warned me about.
I was no longer the good man she remembered or the one who’d dug and crawled through the muck to be able to save Stephen’s life. Like Max, the dark side had been too much of a lure.
And I was beginning to grow fond of my title.
I was the Consigliere of one of the most powerful crime syndicates in the country. But after today, there would be few who didn’t fear my other name.
The Viper.
I took long strides toward Francesco, keeping my voice low with no emotion. “If you want the power so badly, then here’s what we’re going to do. You’re in charge of security. We’re headed to the other facility for which all of you should have been provided with the address. At that point in time, you’re going to contact the men in the field and find out where we’re at. If you fail me, you will face my wrath.”
He was just as surprised as Stephen was a few minutes earlier. “Yes, sir.”
It was perhaps the first time in his entire life he’d answered anyone with a respectful tone. I’d take that as a win.
Now I’d begin to weed out the person responsible for the betrayal.
After that? Heads would roll.
CHAPTER23
Madisen
The change in Danny was staggering, so much so that I could feel his power increasing just by sitting in the close confines of his Maserati. He’d spoken almost no words after ushering me into the vehicle, his concentration locked on ensuring another attack didn’t occur.
While the storm had lessened in intensity, the rain continued to pelt across the windshield, the pinging sounds adding to the tension. He’d left the main roads, taking the Pacific Coast Highway, the two-lane road providing spectacular views in the daylight.
At night, it added to the terror that remained locked inside my mind.
“Where is this compound you mentioned?” I asked when he wasn’t forthcoming.
“Santa Barbara. We should be safe there.”
He constantly glanced into the rearview mirror, certain we’d have another issue. I slumped down in the seat, trying to ease my anxiety. Every muscle ached, the fear constantly clawing my throat. “This isn’t over.”
“No, but there’s a chance this has nothing to do with Torino.”
“Wait a minute. What?”
