AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Cesare! Dominic!”
She sounds more like a boss than she does family, but the warmth in her tone isn’t missed.
“You look well, bambina.” Cesare smiles, looking younger than his age.
He was still buff and just as scary looking as the stories we heard when we were little. Dom doesn’t say anything, he knows better. He’s not capo yet. Anya can get away with it because she is technically a boss, which is why no one says anything to her. We all recognize it. The shift that is happening. Although I’m convinced, even if she wasn’t, Bash would never tell her otherwise. If my brother wasn’t already a killer, he’d let that girl get away with murder. But hey, so would I.
“I am, Papa. The Deluccis are taking very good care of me.”
I snicker, and she shoots me a death glare. I give her my cockiest grin.
“Thank you for looking after my daughter,” Cesare says to my brother.
“She’s been a pleasure to have. You raised quite a woman.” Bash smiles at Cesare.
This isn’t normal by any mafia standards. Two—or, in this case, three—bosses never hold a meeting like this with so much informality and pleasantries. It’s usually tense and silent, and any sudden movement is a death wish. It’s rare for someone to not make a bloody statement by the end of it. But I guess that’s the effect Anya has. I have no doubt she’ll be able to rein in the Triad.
“Of course I did. Now onto business.” Cesare directs the conversation straight to the point.
Uncle Ricky and Dante retell the Outfit men their discoveries. We agreed to meet here at the safe house in two weeks. The Outfit isn’t happy about waiting but tough shit. We can’t have twenty Outfit soldiers traveling simultaneously to the same location. We finally reveal to the Outfit and Anya that we’re in Poquoson, Virginia. It’s a shame we’re going to have to get rid of this place after we’re done with the Triad. Too many people know about it now.
Anya will spearhead the mission’s plans with Bash and soon-to-be capo Dominic. Both Cesare and Dominic try to argue, but she insists since this was her mission, it was essential for her to be involved. And the fact that she was to be the leader of the Triad is her right. She made a fair argument even the Violantes couldn’t argue.
Anya’s plan was brilliant. I don’t think we could have planned it better ourselves. The Outfit will send the hackers and security experts here first to assist Dom, Uncle Ricky, and me to figure out how to break into Li’s security measures. We’ll need several men to break the firewalls and lock codes of the building.
The snipers and arms experts will come next to join ours, to plan our physical attack, and also to make sure our shipment of weapons arrives on time.
Lastly, Cesare, Dominic, and their higher-ranking soldiers will come out to solidify the plan. My father, mother, and some of his men will also be arriving at that time. This means I have two weeks to convince Anya to stay with me after we take down Li. I don’t care if she’s the Triad Queen or not. I want her by my side, and I need her to know that. I just pray she wants the same thing.
Anya
Nico and I had to postpone our post-dinner walk until after the meeting, but the sun was just setting, thanks to it being summer. We’re making out under our usual tree, which Nico confessed he started calling it “Our Spot,” with a blanket laid out under us. We have a delicious spread of charcuterie, jams, cheeses, fruit, bread, and white wine. Nico learned I didn’t like red very much. I don’t know why he insisted on bringing snacks. I’m still stuffed from dinner, but it was still sweet and thoughtful, so very like Nico.
The kiss is wild, passionate but not sexual, though his erection might disagree. He feels so good on top of me, my legs around him like he belonged with me. When he finally pulls away, allowing me to catch some air, I smile up at him.
“This is nice,” I say. “I like just making out with you.”
He chuckles into my neck, then looks into my eyes. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t get me wrong, I like the other things, too, but sometimes a good make-out session is what a girl needs.”
I hold his head in both my hands. I love running my fingers through his hair.
His eyes narrow. “And just how many guys have youjust made out with? Actually, don’t answer that.” He brushes my hair out of my face and cups my chin. “I’ll have to murder someone.”
I laugh, even though I know he means it. He swallows it in a kiss but pulls away too soon. “Is Matteo coming?” he asks. He says his name like he just bit into something rotten.
I tilt my head at him. “How do you even know who Ma—”
My eyes are wide with shock.He didn’t!
“Wait a minute.” I punch his chest. “It was you who set off the fire alarms, wasn’t it? Are you insane!”
His laugh is a low grumble that vibrates through my body and sets off all of my senses. He grabs my hands, kisses them, then pins them down beside my head.
“First of all,” he says, kissing my mouth, “yes, I am fucking insane, Anya. You have no idea the lengths I’m willing to go for you. And second, I did you a favor.”
“Nothing was going to happen, you know,” I taunt.
