Page 219 of Fall Before Her Throne

“Yes. Be right there.”

I hung up and gave Chiara a big squeeze. “Thanks for your help. Now I have to go finish this.”

I hugged her extra tight, letting myself sap some strength from her arms. Her palm cupped the back of my head, and she held tight even when I tried to step away.

She didn’t know about the next part of my plan. Neither did Enzo. But this would be the last time I saw either of them for a while.

When she let me go, there was a strange look on her face—like she could tell something was up. Rather than answer, I turned to the Don. “Rossi. Thanks for your help. I owe you one.”

He gripped my hand and shook firmly, his dark eyes shining. “Pleasure doing business with you, Miss Vero.”

“Pleasure is all mine.”

We parted ways at his private elevator, and I sent up a silent prayer that he’d keep Chiara safe when I couldn’t. Samuel’s car waited at the curb. I hopped in, buzzing with energy. It was definitely adrenaline and fumes, because my body was not pleased with all this movement, but if I didn’t follow through with this last part of the plan, I wasn’t sure if I ever would.

“I’ve spoken to the Special Agent,” Samuel said while he drove to the field office. “The plan should be a go. Everything should be set.”

My fingers curled into balls on top of my thighs. “Do you think this will work?”

Samuel gave me a side-eye. “Do I think they’ll follow through with their side of the plan?” He sighed, jaw ticking. “I do, actually. Are you still dead set on this?”

I nodded. “I appreciate all your hard work, but this is the only way we get this case off our backs. We’ll take a plea deal and be done with it.”

“As your lawyer, I have to disagree,” he said, his nostrils flaring. Samuel had told me more than once that he’d rather fight it in court, but this plea saved us all. “But as Obi’s friend, and your friend, I understand. I’ll work out all the legal details on my side. It won’t be long, so hang in there. We’ll get you out.”

I stared out the window while we drove. It was the last time I’d see this city as a free woman for a long time.

Badawi was going to arrest me in exchange for letting my men go. My last name was known as a prominent crime family, and if I served time, we could finally put this case behind us.

It was the best solution.

“Take care of my guys while I’m gone, Samuel,” I said quietly.

He pursed his lips. “I will, beauty.”

“Obi is stubborn,” I added, biting my thumbnail. “This is not what he had envisioned in his plans, but it’s the best I could come up with. He won’t be happy.”

Samuel gave me a tight smile. “I will handle Obi. Everything will be fine. Just follow my lead and listen to Badawi. She’ll handle their side of things to take you into custody.”

When we arrived at the field office, my hands were shaking. It wasn’t the idea of lockup that scared me. It was that I was trusting Badawi to let my men go. If she went back on this deal and arrested me anyway, we’d be fucked.

I wasn’t sure how I could get us out. I’d played all my cards already.

“Miss Vero,” a receptionist greeted us. “We’ve been expecting you. Please come this way.”

We followed her to an interview room at the back of the building. When Samuel pushed the door open, my men were waiting inside. I sucked in a surprised breath. “What⁠—?”

They shot to their feet, chairs scraping across the ground. I sprinted toward them. We were a tangle of bodies and warmth, and my heart twisted with how much I’d missed them.

“Princess,” Cas said against my hair. “Did you get shot?”

I snorted and then grimaced when a twinge laced through my stomach. “How do you guys already know?”

Badawi entered the room, a folder in her hands. She raised a guilty hand. “Sorry, that was me. I let it slip.”

“Damn,” I sighed while Cas cupped my cheek and examined me for any other suspicious wounds. “I was hoping I could get through this without you all knowing. But I’m fine, I promise.”

“Are you sure?” Wynn asked. His eyes raked over my stomach. We’d have matching scars now. “You need to be in the hospital.”