Page 75 of Single Mom's Mafia Daddies

“Bruce, countdown to Betty.”

“She’s warmed up and ready to sing.” Bruce’s mad cackle caused a chain reaction.

“Can’t believe you gave him Betty,” Alessio said through my earpiece. “He’s never going to stop talking about this.”

“He’s earned her.” I spotted a man making a run for the fallen rocket launcher and lined up the shot. A squeeze on the trigger and he flew backward, arms windmilling and face twisted in shocked outrage. “Anyone have eyes on the Verduccis?”

“Negative, sir.”

Damn it. Where were they?

“These assholes are prepped to the gills but reckless as fuck.” One of the soldiers laughed. “It’s almost like shooting fish. Not sure I like this, Renzo.”

I scanned the road, not liking it either. “Eyes open, boys. Trouble’s out there, we just haven’t spotted it yet. Keep Jessica on watch.”

Soldiers poured from a Humvee and bolted in every direction, rifles firing in what looked like desperation. I’d seen the tactic before and homed in on the man who ran straight at the rocks where Matteo and I hid.

A cascade of rifle fire met the erratic choice.

“Betty’s inbound.” The grind of gears rattled through Bruce’s headset and into my ears. The tank wasn’t the easiest to maneuver in this area, but I’d brought her out of storage for a little exercise and intimidation.

“Six down. Six on the move,” Matteo reported. “I’m down to poppers.”

“Do it.” I lined up another shot when one of my guys missed and the enemy made a running leap toward the tree hiding my guy from view. Another dead man to add to my conscience. One less threat to Lila. I made peace with that.

“Enough C4 will take out a Humvee, but even a little will make a hell of a lot of noise.” Matteo shrugged and scooted to the side.

Betty became apparent even without the earpiece. She rolled into view from behind the convoy and lit up the sky with a series of rattling booms.

“Hell yeah.” Matteo fist pumped the air when the last of the Humvees tumbled uselessly onto their sides.

Soldiers poured out in droves and took up defensive stances, using the Humvees as protection while they fired into the trees.

“Don’t celebrate yet.” I fired shot after shot, each one finding its mark. “These assholes don’t learn.”

“Shit.” Matteo’s hands tightened on the binoculars. “Shit. Shit. Shit. Incoming from the west.”

“What? How?” That stretch of land was impassable…unless they’d brought their own tank. “Please tell me you have one more IED hidden out there somewhere.”

“Sorry.” Matteo rolled sideways into a crouch. “But I might have an idea.”

“You’re not going down there.” I grabbed his collar and held him in place.

He slapped my hand. “If they make it here, they’ll overwhelm us.”

Alessio’s voice tore through my earpiece. “Luca isn’t with the convoy. He’s headed for the estate.”

38

LILA

“Stay with the cameras.” Alessio pushed me toward a chair in front of the bank of screens. “You can watch everything happen from here, and you’ll know if anyone is coming.”

“I should be out there.” I’d known this was coming after he’d laid down the law that I wouldn’t be participating in the counterattack, but that didn’t mean I had to stay locked away. “The best way for me to protect Leo is to be out there.”

“Leo is safe in the panic room with his toys and a personal guard. That’s where you should be.” He stopped long enough to grasp the back of my neck and pull me in for a searing kiss. “Sorry. I want to keep you safe, and it makes me crazy that you refuse to hide. I have to go.”

He bolted from the room, calling out orders as he ran. He mentioned something about choke points and stationing men at each one. His voice faded into the distance until there was nothing left but the tick of a clock and my pounding pulse.