Page 7 of Caught in the Crossfire

I closed my eyes, trying to stem the tears that threatened to fall now that Leona was asleep. I’d cried at Mamma’s funeral, but hadn’t let myself since. Leona needed me to be strong, to take care of her when no one else would.

A door slammed downstairs, and my eyes flared open.

They were home. Papa and Uncle Luciano. Maybe they found something. Maybe they killed the men who tore our lives apart.

I wanted them dead. I wished I could kill them myself. I might have been only twelve, but I was ready. I was old enough.

I slipped out of Leona’s room and hurried down the stairs. The entire house was dark except for the single light still illuminating the kitchen. Despite the darkness, I could still see the dozens of guards stationed around the Vero estate. Their shadows moved as they patrolled the grounds, and the spotlights outside shone on the walls of the mansion. The Family had been on red alert since that horrible day.

“We’re getting close, Luciano.” Papa’s voice came from the kitchen. I followed the sound, one hand carefully dragging across the wall as I kept my steps careful and quiet, just like Papa had taught me. I wanted to hear what they’d found, but they had tried to keep everything away from me and Leona. If they heard me, they’d shoo me back to bed. “We have to be careful.”

“Plans only get us so far, Massimo,” Uncle Luciano responded with a heavy voice. Both of our fathers had barely slept in days. Another reason I had to watch over Leona. They had beensleeplessly hunting down the killers. “Every day they live is another day of pain for us. For our children.”

Uncle was right. Leona was withering away right before my eyes. She was only eight. She’d basically stopped eating, not even when Cas tried to cheer her up with Oreos stolen from my stash. I couldn’t remember the last time she laughed. They had to do something fast, or I feared she’d disappear altogether.

I peeked around the corner to see Papa clasp Uncle on his shoulder. Even though they weren’t related by blood, they looked like brothers. Papa was only slightly taller than Uncle, but they both had the same shade of dark hair. I’d gotten my blond from my mother, but I shared my father’s grey eyes.

“I’m your sworn brother. Have I let you down yet?” Papa asked.

Uncle shook his head. “No, Massimo. But we need to strike swiftly and true. We know where they’re hiding now. If we wait too long, they’ll be gone.”

My hand clenched into a fist. They’d found them? Why weren’t they attacking them now? Why weren’t they avenging Mamma?

“I want them dead just as badly as you. We will wipe them off the face of the earth when we have one hundred percent surety.”

Uncle dragged a hand down his face. “How many men should we take? I don’t want any of them left alive. We need to make a lesson out of them. Don’t fuck with the Vero Family.”

Papa stepped back and handed Uncle a glass of alcohol. I could smell the bitter scent from here. “At least ten. Our wives will get the justice they deserve.”

I listened for fifteen more minutes as they planned each second of their attack, but none of this feltimportant. It felt ridiculous and drawn out and meaningless. With each passing minute, I became more and more impatient. Angry.

Our mammas deservedpeace. And they were sipping drinksand planning? Wasting minute after minute that they could use so that Leona could wake up and finally heal?

What if they were too late?

What if those men disappeared right under their noses?

When they reviewed the plans again, I couldn’t stop myself.

I burst into the kitchen. “Papa!”

Their heads shot up. Uncle reached for his gun before Papa put a hand on his shoulder.

“Max? Why aren’t you in bed?”

“Is Leona all right?” Uncle asked.

I glared at them both, my hands balling into fists. “She’s fine. She’s sleeping. But she’d be even better if our fathers were out there gettingrevenge.”

“Son…”

“Papa, you know where they are! I just heard you!” My eyes flicked to Uncle’s gun. “I’ll go. I’ll go right now.”

Uncle and Papa exchanged a meaningful glance I didn’t understand before Papa nudged him. “Give us a minute,sì?”

Uncle nodded. “I’m going to check on Leona.”

“And waste even more time?” I snapped. “I’m taking care of Leona just fine. You do your job and I’ll do mine.”