Page 35 of A Vendetta That Ruins

The plug comes out easily and I kiss her ass cheeks, one and then another. “Let’s get you showered up,” I tell her, discarding the plug in the sink and washing my hands before turning on the water in the shower. When it’s warm enough I let her get in first.

I’ve barely gotten washed up as she lets the rain wash over her body when the emergency ring tone for the family penetrates the entire penthouse. “Get out and get dressed, fast,” I tell Anna, jumping from the shower, grabbing a towel, barely half dry as I make it back to the bedroom and slide into my pants that were lying on the floor. I grab my phone and a pink shirt and pair of jeans lying across the chair for Anna. “Put this on, do it fast,” I tell her as Nicolo’s phone rings.

Nicolo picks up right away but he’s barking orders to someone else. I button up my shirt as Anna slides into a pair of Keds. Nicolo finally says something. “All hell’s breaking loose at the dock. The Sarones and the Gallinis hit our outbound boats. They fucking blew two of them up and are holding the big boat hostage. They want Anna.”

I pull on socks and shoes and adjust my tie. We knew it was coming and were ready for it but still my chest tightens with rage. “They’ll get Anna over my dead fucking body. We still have all the boats out there except the runners?”

“Sure as fuck do. Every boat off the coast is under our orders right now with soldiers on each with the exception of the one they’ve got hostage and two little dinghies that we could take out right now.”

“Where’s Bastian?”

“The fucker’s nowhere to be seen, probably watching it all go down on a computer screen somewhere. Our soldiers have scoured every inch of the docks, Vincenzo. I knew you would want him first, but we can’t wait. They’ve already taken out two boats. If they take out the one they’re on they think they’re going to hit us in the pocketbook.”

“Yep, get to our men, get them off the ship, and then and only then let them blow the fucker up.”

“Got it. We’ve got good men on the inside of that boat. They know how to take care of themselves but we’re going to need to send others in.”

“Call in our local waterway reinforcements. If they’re not cooperative, make them cooperative, Nicolo.”

“I’m on it, boss. I sent Saint to pick up Lanah and Ma and bring them to be with you and Anna. Agosto and Gianni are here with me now. You know as well as I do this may just be a huge distraction to keep our soldiers busy and get to you and Anna.”

“I’ve got Anna, you get rid of those fucks,” I tell him, picking up my Glock ready to do harm to anyone other than our family who walks through that door.

34

Anna

The burner cell Vincenzo gave me rings after Vincenzo disconnects with Nicolo and makes another call. The moment I hear my sister’s voice I know something terrible has happened. “I don’t have long, but listen. Massimo is talking to Vincenzo right now. I’m not sure what happened but Massimo is taking me underground. Wherever he’s taking me, we won’t have reception. I don’t want you to worry. You need to go underground too. Bastion will try to get anyone he can to exchange for you.”

My chest tightens with worry for my sister as I cuss myself beneath my breath for not going underground myself when everyone advised me to do that very thing.

All of this angst I’ve brought to both the Roselli and DeLuca families could have been avoided. Sophia clears her throat. “Promise me, listen to Vincenzo. Stay safe. I love you.”

My heart aches with sadness. My sister has to leave the home she and Massimo love because of me. “Don’t worry about us. Vincenzo will take care of me. Stay safe Sophia. I love you. I’m sorry I didn’t do as Massimo asked so long ago. Please forgive me.”

My sister is gracious. “There’s nothing to forgive, love. Stay safe and we’ll all be together again soon. I have to go.”

Tears fall from my cheeks, but I’m done running now. The Gallini family has caused enough trouble to my family, they’ve hurt all of us in some way or fashion and I hope like hell it ends today. There’s nothing I would like better than to see his evil face with a bullet hole right between the eyes, and even better if I could put it there myself.

I head to the closet and take out Vincenzo’s spares, ready the weapons and put one of them in my front waistband and the other at my back. “I need a knife.”

Vincenzo sucks in a breath. “Princessa, the men will take care of this.”

I turn to him. “And if something happens, I’m going to be prepared to defend myself and us. That’s not a negotiable. I need a knife.”

Vincenzo’s eyes meet mine. “Of course.” He walks to the closet and moves some of the clothes hanging on his side and opens a door to a space filled with weapons of all types and more ammunition than I would ever need. “You won’t need them, Anna. We’re going to the safe room until this is over.”

I shake my head. “No, he’s after me. I should have left when I had the chance a long time ago, and I didn’t. Then I tried and you brought me back. That’s why your family is in jeopardy. I knew it a long time ago. You should have just let me go,” I tell him, swiping at a tear that I refuse to let fall down my face.

He grasps my shoulders. “Look at me.”

I keep my eyes averted trying my hardest not to let those tears fall but he tips my chin, forcing me to look at him. “If something happened to you, I would slowly die. Do you not understand how much I love you?”

My voice cracks. “Of course I do, because I feel that, Vincenzo. With all of my heart, I feel that but it’s not enough. Gallini believes I belong to him and he’s going to hurt everyone we love until he gets what he wants. I can’t be responsible for the life of my sister, your mother, your sister and Addie. Oh my god. What about Addie?”

I wince at the pain in my stomach.

Vincenzo takes hold of my shoulders. “This is not your fault. You are not the reason my family is in danger. The Gallinis and the Sarones are the reason we are all in danger and I won’t have you shouldering something that’s not your fault. Understand me? Saint will be here soon. Addie has already been sent underground. She is safe, you can be assured of that. We always knew this was coming. Believe it or not, we’re miles ahead of these bastards. Now breathe and trust me, Anna.”