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“It’s fine, really.” Riley gives me a smile. I know she doesn’t want to cause problems. She’s quiet and keeps to herself.
“All right.” I lead Mona down to our bedroom.
Our visit to the city isn’t just because of the doctor's appointment. All of this turmoil is coming to an end. The families will soon settle their differences. Only a few people know that I’ve brought Mona and Riley here for safekeeping.
“Everything okay?” Mona asks when we enter the bedroom. I close the door behind us. “He seemed pissed, and I couldn’t get anything out of Riley.”
“Nikolai will be fine. He would never go against my orders,” I reassure her, knowing how protective she is of her sister.
“I know, I trust you, but I wasn’t asking about that.” It has only been a few weeks, and she is already getting good at reading me.
“I have to go out. I’ll leave Sal and Nikolai here.” There will also be a few men downstairs too, but they should be secure here.
“This is different.”
“I’m meeting your brother and father.” Her lips purse. I know they aren’t her favorite people. In many families, women are treated as mere commodities. You utilize them in a manner that best serves your family. I'm not even a father yet, and I could never envision entrusting my daughter to a marriage for personal benefit. “Mona, you do realize there is a good chance I will kill them.” I tell her the truth, not wanting there to be any secrets between us.
To my surprise, she gives me a soft smile, stepping into me so her body is flush with mine. Her hand slips up my chest and wraps around my neck.
“I love you, Matteo. I pick you. Our family. I’m not an O'Haire. I never was one of them.”
“You’re a Cattaneo,” I finish before I claim her mouth. I wasn’t asking for permission to kill them. There are many things Mona could ask for, and I’d do them without hesitation. There are two things I will, however, never budge on.
I could never let her go. Even if she had asked me to do so, I wouldn’t. I never claimed to be a good man. I want her to be with me, and I would do whatever I had to ensure she was always by my side. The second has everything to do with her safety. With her brother and father out there, I’m not sure what they would do. Even if they begged and gave me their word that they would leave her be, I would never trust them.
If they know how badly I’ve fallen for her, then they’ll try to use her against me. Or they can simply try to take her from me. That means they have to die.
“I love you too.” I cup her face, pressing my forehead to hers. “Stay in the house and listen to Sal, even Nikolai. Can you do that for me?”
“Yes, you can trust me.”
I give her one last kiss before I head downstairs to meet Sergio and a handful of my other men.
Once we have our plan in place and I’m satisfied that the condo is secure, we head out. I don’t want to leave Mona, but I know what needs to be done. She’s in good hands with Sal and Nikolai.
“What are you thinking?” Sergio asks me as we make the drive across the city.
“I don’t know.” I can’t put my finger on it, but there is something that isn’t right. I had already offered to meet Mona’s father, Conor, on multiple occasions, but he hadn’t wanted to settle all of this. The sudden change of heart to meet makes me uneasy. I’m sure I’m just being overcautious, but my gut usually isn’t wrong about things like this.
The only thing I can think of is that he finally came to the realization that he’s fighting a losing battle. I’m sure he'd rather get money or some kind of trade instead of losing everything. I think he could be content with a deal. It's Aidan O’Haire that is the wildcard here. I know he will always try to get more. “Do we have eyes on the warehouse yet?”
Sergio hands me the screen so that I can see it. Fuck, do I love technology. I’m not old school when it comes to everything. The drone gives a perfect view of who is coming and going from the warehouse.
The screen switches over to show body heat so I can count the number of people inside for myself, but I’m sure Zero has been keeping a count. I hit the top corner to connect with him. I pulled Zero into my fold years ago when he almost got nabbed by the FBI.
“Have they arrived?” I ask when the phone connects.
“Only Conor. There is no sign of Aidan.”
I tap the driver's shoulder, letting him know to slow down as I pull through the shitty chain link gate and into the parking lot of the warehouse. That sinking feeling of something not adding up is still prickling at the back of my mind.
“Boss?” Sergio raises a brow in question, wondering what I’m thinking.
“Any incoming vehicles?” We’re down in the warehouse district. The streets are desolate when night falls. Only half the warehouses are even used down here anymore.
“Nothing,” Zero responds. I hear him clicking away. I motion for the driver to stop completely. Where the fuck is Aidan? My mind goes straight to Mona. The one thing that could be used against me.
“Check my condo.”