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Tommy, Big Daddy, and Amelia stayed back at the compound, while Mick, Reno, Sal and Marco, and Teddy and Nikki, along with four additional capos in a separate SUV, all arrived to find carnage at Stonegate. Deep in the woods didn’t prevent its breach and all six capos that were guarding the outer perimeter were dead. Inside, the three capos that had been guarding the prisoners were also dead. But Potter Rarsi, though shot numerous times, was still alive.

“Who the fuck could have gotten this deep into your security, Uncle Mick?” a befuddled Reno was asking when they walked in.

“Renardo,” said Sal, which only reminded Nikki of her screwup. Teddy placed his arm around her waist as they hurried over to Rarsi while Reno and Sal began searching the entirety of the property inside and out to ensure no additional sneak attacks. Teddy got on his knees. Nikki crouched down beside him. Mick stood over all of them.

But Marco was confused. “Where’s Vivian?” he asked.

Mick looked at him. But they remained by Rarsi. If anybody was going to have that answer, it was going to be Rarsi.

“What happened, Potts?” Teddy asked the mobster. “Who did this?”

Rarsi spoke, but they couldn’t understand him. Teddy got down even closer. “Who did this to you, Potts?”

He clutched Teddy’s shirt. “D,” he said.

“D? Who’s D?” Then Teddy realized who. “Denardo? You’re saying Denardo’s gang did this to you?”

“They took Vivian. They took . . .” But Rarsi’s grip on Teddy’s shirt lessened, and then he passed out.

“Is he dead?” Nikki asked anxiously.

Teddy listened to his heartbeat. “Not yet.”

“Nikki, call Doc,” said Mick. “Get him over here now.”

Since the doctor was at the compound monitoring Duke, Nikki immediately called Tommy Gabrini to get the doctor to the safe house.

Then Reno and Sal came back up front too. “It’s clear,” said Sal.

“He’s dead?” asked Reno.

“Not yet. Doc’s on the way,” said Nikki.

“Did he say anything?”

“He said D’s involved. We assume he means Denardo.”

“Denardo?” asked Reno. “Isn’t that who you thought was involved all along?”

Teddy nodded. “Yup.”

“Then let’s go get his ass,” said Reno. “It’s past time we hit Denardo anyway.”

“But not his full outfit,” said Nikki. “We can’t risk war until we get answers.”

“Right,” Mick agreed.

“But why would Denardo take Vivian?” Marco asked. “Why didn’t he just kill him like he thought he killed Rarsi?”

“Let’s go find out,” Teddy said. “Marco, you stay here and wait for Doc to get here.”

Marco was upset. “Come on, Pops!”

“You heard me. You stay! The capos that came with us will stand guard on the exterior just in case they try to double back.”

But Mick was looking at Potter’s grave condition and remembering how he came back and rescued him and his son. “Reno, you stay too,” Mick said. “I don’t want Potts dying alone.”

Marco frowned. “I wouldn’t do that, Sir. I wouldn’t leave him.”

“I’ll stay,” said Reno. “Let’s get these pricks and be done with this.”

Satisfied that Potts was in good hands, Mick and Teddy, and Sal and Nikki left.

Marco looked at Reno. “I wouldn’t leave him like that, Uncle Reno.”

“Start coming around more and let them get to know you better, then maybe they’ll believe it. But they don’t know your ass like that yet.”

“But it’s like they don’t trust me.”

“They don’t know you.”

“So they’re scared of me because they don’t know me?” A frustrated Marco ran his hands through his hair. The way Teddy always did, Reno noticed.

Then Marco, who always looked on the bright side, looked at Reno and smiled. “Are you scared of me, too, Uncle Reno?”

Reno frowned. “ Me scared of you ? I eat punks like you for breakfast boy, what are you talking? I was gangster before gangster was cool. Scared of you. Yeah, I’m scared of you alright. Woo I’m so scared. I got your scared right here.” He grabbed his balls. “I got it right here!” Marco laughed.

But then they looked at Potter Rarsi’s lifeless body, and the gaiety ended.