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Until now, he's been a minor thorn in our side.
The fact that Rafe's sister is with him is no minor issue. It's a major fucking problem.
"Are you sure it's her?" I growl, my blood pressure rising. Maybe Nico had the right idea when he walked away from all of this. Right now, it sounds a whole helluva lot more appealing than telling my best friend that his fucking father left a daughter behind. And that she's living with our enemy.
By choice or by force?
It's a good question.
"As sure as I can be without inviting a whole lot of questions you don't want answered at the moment." Coda eyes me levelly, making it clear he isn't on board with any of this shit. He wanted to tell Rafe as soon as Enzo started talking. But I know Rafe better than I know myself.
Rafe wouldn't stop to ask questions. He'd go in guns blazing.
If she's not the right girl, we tip our hand, letting every enemy we have know he has a missing sister. And if she's with Cascella by choice, well, that's a whole fucking different problem. Before I tell Rafe anything, I need answers.
"Where is she?"
"One of the Cascella properties on the far side of the city."
"Guarded?"
Coda shrugs. "Aren't they usually?"
I nod, my gaze drifting to the gun I just unloaded. I thought my night was over, but it looks like it's just beginning. Wonderful.
Whether she's there by choice or by force, I won't leave her there for a second longer. I'm not an idiot. The Valentinos are the closest thing I have to family. They took me in after my parents were murdered. But this girl might be their blood. I'm not stupid enough to believe they wouldn't kill me without hesitation for leaving her there.
It's what I'd do.
I pour a little more bleach into the sink, rinse it out, scrub my hands, and then turn off the water, drying my hands thoroughly before reaching for my gun. "Let's go get her."
"Just us?"
I glance around the bathroom, one brow arched. "Do you see anyone else here, Passero?" A dark smirk overtakes my face. "Or is that your way of saying you're going soft?"
Coda's expression goes flat as he rattles off a string of curses, telling me exactly what he thinks about that question in both Italian and English.
I laugh quietly as I load my weapon before slipping it back into the holster.
He may be married now, but there's nothing soft about the man. He's as deadly and dangerous now as ever, the most lethal weapon we've got. Hell, if anything, he's more dangerous now that he has a wife to protect. Nothing will stop him from making it home to Karina at the end of the day.
"Let's fucking go," he growls, stomping from the room.
I follow him out, still chuckling.
Half an hour later, we park in the shadows outside of the Cascella mansion. It's a mini-Italian estate with towering columns and intricate carvings adorning the stone exterior. Despite its beauty, there's an air of neglected opulence to it, as if the mansion is rarely used.
If Brio is trying to hide her, he picked the worst possible fucking place to do it. The mansion isn't gated. Hell, it's barely even guarded.
That fact doesn't give me much hope that she's being held against her will.
"Only three guards at the front entrance," Coda murmurs, his hawk-like gaze focused on the mansion. "Seems easy enough."
"Which means it's not." My lips pull down into a frown. Either there's more security than we're seeing, or he skipped security for a reason. Brio Cascella isn't a fool. He's as calculating as they come. If there aren't guards here, it's for a reason.
We're probably walking into a fucking trap.
I glance at Coda, grim determination hardening his expression. He knows as well as I do what's at risk here. Shit. We've risked more for less and lived to tell the tale. I can't remember the last time someone wasn't trying to kill us. Frankly, I'll be more suspicious the day they stop trying.
