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"Can I have a word with Mum? She's been on my mind non-stop these past few days. Honestly, I wasn’t prepared for taking care of a baby day and night. All I’ve ever done is babysit.” I tried to hold back the tears threatening to spill.
"Amy, sweetheart, I wish I could make that happen. But the FBI only gave the green light for me to contact you. No one else from our family is allowed, and that includes your mother. You can only imagine how heartbroken she is. She sends you all her love, though. And as you can see from my surroundings, I'm not at home either."
"Where are you then?”
"I'm afraid that's a secret, my darling!"
"I love you, Papa!"
As the screen faded to black, a soft whimper echoed from the other room. "Seems like someone's craving a bottle."
With a playful grin, Ramirez passed Ava into my arms and said, "Fear not, little one! Mama's here to save the day!"
ChapterSeventeen
Mitch
I stoodin Guy's kitchen, flipping pancakes and sizzling bacon on the griddle while the guys sat around the kitchen island like a pack of hungry wolves. Daniel, Ryder, Chase, and Guy all chimed in with their breakfast orders, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at their enthusiasm. However, it was a nice break from the long faces we often wore around here.
"Hey, Mitch," Daniel teased, "have you ever considered applying to the local Waffle House as a short-order cook? You've got the skills."
Ryder snickered, and Chase joined in. "Yeah, man, you'd be a natural."
I shot them a mock glare, flipping another pancake with exaggerated flair. "Laugh it up, boys," I retorted. "But if we don't get Shock and Awe off the ground, we might all be looking for new jobs."
Late last night, after our Zoom visits with our families, we proceeded to get drunk while playing poker and discussing the new app that we hoped to market to electric utilities. The name Shock and Awe started as a joke, but it stuck for our new app. It was a make-or-break kind of deal for us. But before I could slide into a full-blown rant about the importance of our project, I caught sight of Agent Downing, who was as hungover as the rest of us and looked like he could also use some breakfast. He'd played poker with us and probably lost more money than he'd care to admit.
Just as I was about to fix him a plate, the intercom buzzed with a message from the front gate of Casa Palacious. I pushed the button, and the guard's voice crackled through. "Hey, there's a US Marshal here with some sort of orders. They're demanding to speak with Agent Downing since he's in charge of your protective custody detail. What should I do?"
We exchanged glances with Downing, who immediately straightened in his seat. Something about this felt off, and we knew it, and so did he. But there was no sense in keeping the Marshal waiting. "Send them through," Guy yelled from across the room.
I handed Agent Downing a plate of breakfast, watching as he took a deep breath and braced himself for whatever was coming our way. "Guess the fun's over, boys," I said, trying to keep my tone light. "Downing, do you have any idea what this is about?"
"Nope, not a clue!" Downing hissed, shoveling in a few more quick bites of his scrambled eggs.
As the guys exchanged uneasy glances, we all knew that the arrival of a US Marshal could only mean one thing—trouble. And for Rosedale Tech, trouble had a nasty habit of following us around.
We all crowded around the window, watching a beige Cadillac pull up with Giuseppe Russo at the wheel, flanked by one man seated beside him and one in the back. As the doors to the car opened, I recognized one of them as my attorney, Angelo Ferrara. But when Downing caught sight of the third man, his eyes widened in recognition.
"That's Antonio Russo!" Downing whispered, glancing at me.
"Who's Antonio Russo?" Chase inquired.
"He's only the kingpin of the Russo crime family."
"What the fuck!" Daniel whispered.
My breath caught in my throat when Giuseppe Russo, Amy's father, stepped out of the car. He wore a well-fitted suit, which differed from his usual casual Tommy Bahama beachwear. He and his brother Antonio could have passed for twins if it weren't for Antonio's balding head. Giuseppe glanced at all of us and then gave me a crisp nod and a tight smile.
My heart pounded in my chest while I stood in the doorway as the men made their way toward the front porch. Antonio Russo's presence was a clear sign that some power move was about to go down. Downing's face had gone pale, and the rest of the Rosedale Tech crew shifted uncomfortably, casting anxious glances at each other.
When the trio finally entered Casa Palacious, they couldn't help but look around in admiration. "Well, I must say, this is quite the place you've got here, Guy," Giuseppe remarked, his eyes sweeping the opulent room with a mixture of envy and appreciation.
In that instant, I realized Angelo was the man sporting the US Marshall's badge, and my mind raced with confused thoughts stoked by fear. Then as the tension in the room thickened, Giuseppe's gaze landed on Agent Downing, the one person that wasn't a part of the Rosedale crew. "Ah, you must be the infamous Agent Downing," he said with a smirk. "I've heard all about you."
Downing's jaw clenched tightly, but he remained silent, staring back at Giuseppe.
Then without further ado, my attorney performed his duties as a US Marshall. "Agent Kenneth Downing, I'm here to serve you with a Court order."
