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Teo lets out a sigh of relief before saying, “There’s something I want to give you before we head out.” He pulls a velvety black box out of one of the pockets of his cargo pants, and my heart skips a beat at the sight.
What is he doing?
He reads my widened eyes and frozen stature. “Relax. We’re already married, so it can’t be what you think,” he says with a chuckle. “Although, you do deserve an engagement ring, so we’ll be taking a trip to my jeweler once all of this is over. But that has nothing to do with this.” He pops open the box and inside is a dainty silver chain with a beautiful round emerald pendant in the middle.
Izzy’s arm falls from my shoulders when I move forward, the gorgeous piece of jewelry pulling me in. “Oh my gosh, Teo. What is this for?” The necklace is so simple but stunning.
“You didn’t think I’d forget your birthday, did you?”
My gaze gets pulled to his, and I swear everything else in the world melts away for a second. It’s just him and me, and we’re in this perfect little bubble.
Pulling the necklace out of its box, Teo gestures for me to turn around. “May I?” he asks, which I silently answer by turning around and pulling my hair up so it’s not in his way.
After clasping the necklace, I turn back around and glance down at the pendant, holding it in my hand. “Thank you, Teo. It’s absolutely beautiful.”
“Hold on a second. It’s your birthday?” Izzy asks from behind me, surprise in her tone. “I can’t believe I didn’t know it was your birthday. Teo, why didn’t you tell me? I didn’t get you anything, Lux. You know what, it’s okay. After this is all over, you and I are going shopping. And your mom, of course. Ooh or a spa day!”
Izzy’s words come out frantic and rushed, but all I can focus on is the fact Teo knew today was my birthday and surprised me with this beautiful gift.Ididn’t even remember today was my birthday, so call me shocked when he knew after everything else he has going on.
“Yes, I like that idea.” Izzy continues, mostly speaking to herself. “I think a spa day after all of this is one hundred percent necessary.”
“Thank you, Teo. This is the most beautiful gift I’ve ever received. I don’t know what to say.”
He pulls me into his arms, wrapping them around my waist. I press up on my tippy toes and throw my arms around his neck while giving him a kiss. “How can I ever thank you for this? It means more than you know.”
“Just promise me you’ll never take it off,” he whispers. He gazes into my eyes and I nod.
“I’ll call you once she’s out and safe in one of our vehicles,” he says while backing up. “Don’t worry, Lux. This is all about to come to an end. That was my promise to you, and as you’ve seen, I always keep my promises.” With that, he turns on his heel and walks away, risking his life to rescue my mom. For me.
45
MATTEO
We pull up a few blocks away from the warehouse with over an hour to spare. The text from Lux’s mother’s phone might’ve said 10:00 p.m., but we weren’t going to come in blind.
Eddie stops our car while Rocco pulls up next to us with Tito and Gianni. Lowering my window, I gesture for him to do the same. “Rocco, I want your team stationed far enough away where you have eyes on the warehouse at all times. I don’t want us all going in and then we’re ambushed by even more of Silvestri’s men from the outside. If or when we need the extra hands, we’ll call you over the mic, but make sure to keep us updated on the surroundings.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“If Lux’s mother isn’t in plain sight once we get in, I want Tito’s and Gianni’s teams to cover the bottom floor while I take the second floor with Enzo’s and Eddie’s teams.”
I point to two abandoned buildings, each a block away from Silvestri’s warehouse. One on the Northeast end and oneon the Southwest end. Each positioned well enough to give us visuals of all four sides of the building.
“Rocco, Tito, and Gianni will take their teams to the Northeast building, and I’ll take the Southwest building with Enzo’s and Eddie’s teams for the next hour. Keep your eyes on Silvestri’s warehouse at all times. Every fucking person that enters and exits, I want to know about. You see a homeless person loitering, I want to fucking know. Understand?”
“Yes, Boss,” the five of them say in unison.
“Let’s do this then,” I say before breaking off with our teams.
46
LUXTYN
“You need to stop pacing,” Izzy says as she sits on the couch and watches me walk back and forth against the far wall. “You’re going to burn a hole into the hardwood floors if you keep going at the rate you are.”
I turn toward her and cross my arms in front of my chest and bring one hand up and start biting my thumbnail. “I know. I’m just so anxious and I can’t think about anything other than what’s going on at the warehouse right now.”
Izzy jumps up from the couch and marches over to me with determination.She actually looks like she’s going to slap me.I’m about to brace myself when she yanks my thumb out of my mouth.
