“They were waiting for us,” Francesco says. “How did they know?”
“We’re going to find out,” I reply. “How are the rest of the men?”
“Gianni and Eddie are with the doc, but nothing critical,” he informs me.
“Good.” I turn to Ivo. “It’s time for a face-to-face with Reno, Alessio, and Marco. This needs to end. They got too close to Evangeline.”
“Do you want me to make arrangements?” Ivo asks.
“I’ll take care of that. I need you to go back to the house, tell Peppa to pack a bag for each of us, and meet us at the plane. More than likely, we’ll be heading to New York tonight.”
“On it,” he replies and is gone.
My next mission is to talk with Reno. Luckily, his brother Dante is with him. I tell them both about the latest attack. “I’m done with this. I need to know where Fuego Demonios are hiding out. My wife will not live in fear.”
“Dante and I will meet you in New York. Call Marco and tell him we’re coming. I’ll get ahold of Alessio and see if he can join us,” Reno says.
By the time I make it back to Evangeline, she’s much calmer. So calm, in fact, that I see a look in her eyes that I can’t read. She blurts out, “They’re after me, aren’t they?”
I want to lie to her, but that’s not my style. Then we lie to cover lies, and it just becomes a mess of information and unraveling the truth is even more difficult. I’ve never lied to my men. I won’t lie to Evangeline.
“I believe so,” I reply. I regret my decision immediately when her shoulders sag. “They’re not going to get to you.” I walk to her.
“Why? I just want to know why? I haven’t hurt anyone. I don’t even know anyone in Philadelphia besides you.”
“It’s more complicated than that. This stems from La Famiglia.” I can see the wheels turning in her head. She’s putting it all together. The shooting at the wedding, and all the rest.
“Is this because of Dad? Mom?” She shakes her head and stands, hands fisted by her sides in anger. “They almost killed my mother. They hurt her so badly. Dad did what he did because of what they did to Mom. What? They think they’re going to do the same to me? No! I won’t let them.”
“No, they won’t, tesoro. Because they’ll never get closer than what happened today. We’re heading back to New York in a few hours. The other families are meeting us there. This needs to end. They will pay dearly. Blood will flow like a river as I tear them apart one by one. I’ll make it clear that no one fucks with my family.” I cup her cheek. She leans into it. My trusting angel. Too caring. Too loving.
I’ve tried to call what I feel for Evangeline lust, attraction, a new distraction. I know this isn’t true. She’s the woman I love. She’s everything I’ve craved but never allowed myself to have. All the people I’ve cared for have proven they can’t be trusted. My own brother, my blood, turned against me. Yet I can’t deny what I feel.
She comes into my arms, laying her head on my chest. “You may think me foolish, and I have nothing to compare it to, but I love you, Raffaele. I know it’s crazy, but I know what I feel.”
I tilt her chin upward and gaze into her eyes. She means what she says. There’s no deception or pretense. I brush my lips over hers.
I want to say the words back. I try to, clearing my throat and opening my mouth to speak. She places her fingers over my lips.
“Shh, you don’t have to say it. If and when you’re ready, really ready, it’ll come out easily. I don’t want you to fake it.”
A knock on the door ruins the moment. I call for them to come in. Francesco asks me to come take a call from one of my underbosses. I don’t want to leave Evangeline in this moment but keeping her alive and eliminating the enemy needs to be my priority.
* * *
Evangeline
During our flight, Raffaele and Ivo sit at the back of the plane and confer between themselves. Although, every so often, he’ll come to check on me or send the flight attendant to make sure I have all I need.
Raffaele did share that Nero and Aris will be picking us up. As difficult as this situation is, I’ll be happy to see my brother again. We’ll stay with Nero and Felicia. I asked if we could go to my parents’ home, but Raffaele flatly forbade this, saying it’s not safe.
That part sucks, but I can understand his apprehension. Besides, my parents won’t be there, and it really wouldn’t be much of a visit anyhow.
Upon landing, we’re greeted by a small army. Nero shakes Raffaele’s hand and Aris embraces me in a warm hug. I’m whisked into a car, and we’re back on the road again. Aris tells me about his latest call with Mom and Dad. When Dad heard what was happening back here, he wanted to get on a plane and come home. Marco called him and told him the best thing he can do is stay put. I’m grateful that Mom isn’t here. It all started with her abduction, and this would bring up all that hurt again.
“Welcome. It’s so good to see you, Angie,” Felicia says, carrying her young son, Antonio, on her hip. “Say hello, baby,” she coos to her boy. Antonio gives a little wave and a shy hello. He’s super adorable. “You must be exhausted after your trip. Let me show you to your room, and you can take a long bath and relax before dinner. How does that sound?”
“Heavenly. It’s been a long day and I could use some down time. Thank you for having us. I hope we’re not too much of an imposition.”
Felicia walks me up to the luxurious guest room. “Please take your time. I’ve had your bags brought up. I’m going to get Antonio an early dinner and put him down. He’s cranky when he doesn’t get enough sleep,” she jokes, then leaves me alone.
A hot bath sounds so tempting, I run the water using the lavender bath salts. Raffaele calls me from the bedroom.
“I’m in the bath,” I respond.
Raffaele opens the door and looks at me salaciously. “I’d like to forget I have a conference call with Marco and join you.” I’d be embarrassed but in the short time we’ve been together, Raffaele has taught me to appreciate my body, curves and all. The way Raffaele looks at me makes me feel beautiful. He sits on his haunches by the tub, dipping his hand into the water and gliding it upward to my breasts, where his gentle touch makes my nipples peak. He gives me a sexy grin. “I must leave, tesoro, but I promise to make it up to you.” After a fast, hard kiss, he’s gone.
* * *
Raffaele
Nero, Luciano, and Aris are already in Nero’s study when I’m ready to join them. Ivo is waiting for me at the door. We enter to see all the others standing around a table with papers spread out over them.
“Are we interrupting?” I ask.
Nero waves us in. “Not at all. Aris has started documenting all we know about Fuego Demonios. We’re looking for a pattern or clue as to what we may be missing.” Nero rests his hand on one section of the table. “This is the past. Marco’s and Cosimo’s renditions of the events with Carla. Aris is convinced that there was a reason they went after his mother.”
“And the same reason exists as to why they’re targeting Evangeline,” I finish.
“It’s a theory,” Luciano says.
“May I?” Ivo nods to the series of collected photos.
“Be my guest,” Nero says. “Dante got those. The first one is Cortez, their leader. Not sure what high-profile government site he got that from, but the guy is relentless.”
Ivo scans through the photos, stopping at each one to examine it. He focuses on one photo in particular. A young woman with the same wild curls as Evangeline, but with olive skin and more prominent cheekbones. She’s lovely. Not nearly as beautiful as my wife, but they could be sisters, as they have so many similarities.
“This is Cortez’s daughter, Carmen,” Nero says.
“How does she fit into this?” I ask.
“Dante pulled everything he could on Cortez. That picture is from over twenty years ago. His daughter was the same age that Evangeline is now. Dante thinks this is a retaliation for his daughter. The thing is, there’s no death certificate, no cemetery plot, nothing to say she’s dead. So, where the hell is she, and what has this got to do with La Famiglia and the Lanzias?” Nero sighs, shaking his head. “Reno’s got a strong sense that Dante’s right, but Marco and Cosimo claim they know nothing about the girl.”
“Did you deal with the Mexican cartel back then? Did you have any deals that took you there?” I ask the men.
“Dad was never in Mexico,” Aris says. “I asked. He was sent to Texas once. That’s the closest he ever got.”
“This girl’s disappearance, has anyone ever thought she left on purpose? Maybe she ran away, and Cortez thinks we were involved,” Ivo suggests.
“Based on what?” Nero asks. “No one from twenty years ago remembers ever seeing Carmen.”
“Maybe not, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Carmen and Evangeline have similar features,” I say.
We went over every piece of information the tortured gang members gave us before they died. Mostly, they all had “need to know” information, meaning minimal information. One had the location of the last known hideout. Another had the location of the church and confirmed the target was the Lanzia family, except for Evangeline, who they wanted alive. Once they had her, the soldiers would get a call instructing them where to deliver her. Monika was a pawn, and while some guy was talking her up, another guy hacked her phone and sent the message. That’s how they got the location of the house I had hidden away, through her GPS, and how they were able to lie in wait until Evangeline left the house for the first time.
The only new clue came after the crash. My men were able to recover quickly and kill the men who hit them. It just so happens that one gang member was calling the boss and the phone was left on. My man contacted Dante right away, and with any luck, he’ll be able to trace it to a contained geographical area. Last I heard, he was still working on it.
“We’re right back at the beginning. The feud started with La Famiglia, fifteen minutes down the street from Carla’s home, while she went to the grocery store. They took an innocent woman. Why? They beat her and raped her. Why? We have more questions than answers,” I say.
Nero turns to Aris. “Call your father. Find out if anything strange happened on his trip to Texas. It’s a long shot, but you never know.” The doorbell rings, and I raise my brows to Nero. He says, “I invited Emiliano and Cara for dinner. I thought it would make Evangeline happy. Let’s enjoy the rest of the evening. Tomorrow will be here soon enough, and we’ll regroup.”