Page 20 of A Vendetta That Ruins

It’s a gamble but all of our regulars are here protecting us, protecting the family and I need someone who will make sure that Pa gets off that boat, and to this hospital in time to see my ma in case she dies.

No matter the risk, the love they have, that they’ve had for all the years of my child and adult- hood, knowing what he gave up for her and that she’ll never forgive me for not letting her see him for the very last time, all of it haunts my mind. Ice rings in. “You clear of heat?”

“Yep, a long time ago.”

“Good. I need you to head to go pick someone up for me. I’ll send you the coordinates and I swear if you share this shit with anyone, I will skin you alive myself and feed you to the fucking fish, capisce?”

“You don’t have to worry about me, boss.”

In my heart I know I don’t but in this world you can’t fucking trust anyone. It’s the one rule pappa taught me and I’m still holding on today but trying to let go where Anna is concerned.

At some point, I’m going to have to expand our family, put my trust into men who have been with us for years but could just as easily turn against us.

I inhale a deep breath. Saint I’ve grown up with. Hell he may as well be one of us as close to me and my brothers as he is. Ice, I don’t know him as well but he’s been with our family for almost fifteen years. Pa trusted him and he’s led our soldiers out in the streets for as long as I can remember. Pa trusted him and so do I. I can’t relinquish Saint, I need him here to help protect the family. I send Ice the coordinates. It’s not far, but it’s not out in plain sight either by design.

Anna doesn’t say a word until we pull up to the hospital that is on no registry and no map.

Every single thing about this underground safe house and hospital is intended to keep it quiet, give us more time and ensure that we have the upper hand in this family mafia war we find ourselves in.

I take Anna’s hand as our men open the doors of our vehicle. Anna and I exit the vehicle, surrounded by our most trusted men as we walk through the tunnel until we reach the spot where everything is not what it appears. From here, no one, not even our trusted men, know how to enter.

I push my finger against the panel, letting the electronic eye pick it up and sync to the computer program that opens the door to the DeLuca’s underground safe house and hospital.

It opens on a computerized automation. Anna’s eyes are large and round. “Holy shit,” she says. “I’m not sure what you are dragging me into but if it’s a safe house, it’s amazing.”

I meet Saint’s eyes. “Nothing about this place gets out.”

He doesn’t say a word, just gives me the same old nod he’s been giving me for years. Solid, trustworthy, and a man who is very soon going to be a made man. On that Nicolo and the other brothers firmly agree. More like a brother than an employee, he’s protected our asses for a lifetime. It’s high time we bring him deeper into the fold.

The elevator takes us upstairs and Nicolo meets us as we exit the car. He claps Saint on the back and gives me a look of approval as I place a hand at the softness of Anna’s lower back. She looks up and down the hall and then back at me. “You have your own hospital?”

The question catches me off guard as does the look on her face. “We do.”

Anna looks around the front entrance of the hospital that is more elite than any other ever designed, we made damn sure of that. Our family knew it was going to be needed at one time or another, just not for our mother. “It’s an entire hospital?”

“Surgery rooms, procedure rooms, recovery rooms, and private spaces in case the family needs to stay here long term for any reason.”

“Unbelievable. I know the Cassones never had something like this.”

His eyebrow arches.

“At least I was never privy to knowing anything like that. I just hope your mom is comfortable and comes through this with no issues.”

I lean down. “Let’s go see Ma, Lanah, and my brothers. I’m anxious to introduce you to all of them now that you’ve said I do.”

Anna gives me a reassuring smile and takes my hand. “Let’s go see everyone and make sure your mamma is okay.”

19

Anna

The guards keep us surrounded and more guards greet us as we reach the end of the hall where a security station similar to those used at TSA is set up. The soldier manning the area gives Vincenzo a nod. “I’m going to need everyone to empty your pockets, place everything in one of the round containers, then I’ll have you walk through one at a time.”

Vincenzo leans down so only I can hear what he’s saying. “Nothing to be afraid of, princessa. They’re just checking for bugs. She’s with us,” he tells the guard. I put my purse in the round bowl and walk through as the soldier nods to the other that I’m clear.

Vincenzo walks through without emptying anything in his pockets, as does Nicolo. Vincenzo wraps his arm around my shoulders as Saint walks through and all the lights on the devices around us light up.

Vincenzo gives the guard a nod. “Saint’s with us.” We walk toward the door to our left and Saint moves in front, a stance of protection that I’ve seen over and over in my lifetime. He opens the door to let all of us through and only after we’re through does he follow us down the hall. Nicolo leads us down another hall and then opens another door into a clinical looking space that reminds me so much of the safe room my papa used to have in Jersey City, only not nearly on this scale.