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And that was the second problem. “We need more time to set up. When does he want to meet today?”
“Two hours,” Shaun said. “Not enough time for you to get your guys into position.” He laughed and I could hear the bitterness. “Colm’s fucking smart, man. He smells something.”
“Tell him we’ll do it,” I said. “I’ll figure something out.”
“You can’t go in there alone. He’ll eat you alive.”
“Doesn’t matter. Tell him we’ll be there in two hours.”
I hung up and found Sam out by the pool. She ran inside to get ready as I stormed into the Don’s office. He was on the phone and held up a hand, but I walked to the receiver and hung up on him. He lowered the phone down, glaring at me. “That was the mayor, you know.”
“Colm Healy wants to meet today,” I said. “He wants to meet at the Glenside Pub in about two hours from right now.”
“Shit,” Don Valentin said, hanging up the phone. “Not enough time to prepare.”
“What can you pull together?”
“I’ve got some guys we can rely on, but this isn’t a good situation.”
“Call them up. We’re going. I don’t think we’ll get another meeting like this.”
Don Valentino studied me for a long moment before standing. “Listen, Matteo, if you can take the shot, then do it. Kill that fucker Colm. Do what I haven’t been able to do and end this damn war.”
“I will,” I said. “I won’t walk out of there alive otherwise.”
“Don’t get yourself killed. You just got married.”
“She’s coming too.”
His face darkened for a moment. “Let me guess, Colm requested that.”
“If I could avoid it, I would.”
“I know.” He sighed and shook his head. “I’ll provide whatever support I can, but this is our only shot. We have to take it.”
“I agree. Sam’s already on board.”
“Good. You got lucky with that one. Could’ve gotten a hundred girls pregnant and not ended up with a woman like her.”
“You’re damn right I got lucky,” I said, turning to leave. “I’m going to get prepped. Tell your guys to head over to the Glenside Pub right now and find positions around the building. If one of them can get inside, tell them to do it, but only one.”
“Understood.” Don Valentino sat back down and grabbed his phone. “Good luck, Matteo.”
I left his office and headed upstairs. I should’ve taken a shower or gotten changed, or done any number of things, but instead I headed right to Sam’s bedroom. I knocked twice before she let me in.
She wore a pair of black jeans and a long-sleeve shirt, her hair pulled back in a tight bun. I touched her cheek as she came closer, then pulled her against me in a tight hug as the door closed behind us.
“You okay?” I asked softly.
“I’m okay. Just nervous. I know it’s the right thing for me to go, but it’s still terrifying.”
“I know,” I said. “If I could avoid this, I would.”
“Why do you think Colm wants me there?”
“He’s testing us. Wants to see if we’ll show our hand. He knows you’re important to me, probably realized it at the last meeting, and now he’s going to take advantage of that.”
“He’s my uncle, Matteo. What’s that say about my family?”
I shook my head and pulled back to kiss her. “It only says that Colm’s a power-hungry snake, and we’re going to cut his head off today.”
She nodded, staring into my eyes with her jaw set and a determined expression on her face. “Damn right we are.”
“Just one thing. When we’re in there, I need you to do whatever I say. If I tell you to dive to the floor, do it without hesitation. Can you promise me that?”
“I promise.” She touched my cheek. “I’d tell you that I’m scared, but I think you know that already.”
“You’re going to make it through this, I swear. I won’t let you get hurt.”
“I believe you.”
I kissed her again, holding here there, lips tasting hers, and that strange, tingling rush moved over my body again thinking about bringing her through this and what our lives might be like after it was all over. We’d still be married, though I didn’t know how long she’d let that last, but the baby would come eventually and she’d always be in my life.
I wanted her to stay. I wanted this, whatever it was. For so long, I’d been a single man living only to help the family, fighting and killing and stealing. Now I felt like I had purpose with this baby and this woman that I worshiped. She was the reason I woke up and kept fighting, the reason I wanted to make it through this meeting.
She gave my existence meaning beyond pure violence and money and greed.
I still had all those things, but at least I could turn all my broken flaws into something good if it meant giving Sam and our baby the perfect life.
