Angelo says wearily, “Then you will be pleased to discover that phase three of our plan is already underway.”
We all grin because this is big news and Angelo looks at Malik and says smoothly, “Maybe you should explain where Ivan is.”
Our fifth member is missing, and it’s not a surprise when Malik says with a great deal of amusement in his voice, “I finally got a location on Massimo’s daughter. Her name is Charlotte Richmond, and she is currently locked away in her final year of finishing school deep in the English countryside.”
“Good work.” I’m impressed and Alessandro says urgently, “What’s the plan?”
Malik exchanges a dark look with Angelo, and I recognize the evil gleam in his eye as he laughs softly. “We begin a race of the darkest kind. I’m guessing Massimo will find out the same information as I did, if he hasn’t already and will be on his way to claim his lost daughter. It’s just lucky that our Bratva friend was already in the country, and we have sent him to collect.”
“Then what?” Alessandro is keen to act, and I feel so bad for him and yet relieved that he has yet to witness the suffering Winter is currently going through because I’m doubtful he would be able to hold back if they were in the same room together and our carefully laid plans would erupt in a bloodbath.
Malik says smoothly, “She is about to be kidnapped by a savage and we should spare a thought for the poor girl and the nightmare she is about to endure.”
This makes us laugh because Ivan’s nickname is well deserved. He is the only one of us who loves this life, revels in it and adores every sadistic moment of it. He loves to fight and the only man who can match him is our beast Alessandro and just thinking of the tattooed warrior heading Charlotte Richmond’s way makes me expel a breath and say with meaning, “The poor woman. Born to a madman and about to be kidnapped by one. I’m sorry for her.”
The others laugh and Angelo grins. “You would understand a lot about living with a madman. Tell us your story.”
As I fill them in on what happened to get us to this point Malik whistles slowly. “Good work, Flynn, I’m happy for you.”
I stare at him with interest. “How are things for you?”
The demons circle as Malik shrugs. “The same, but I will have my day. Have no fear of that.”
Alessandro interrupts.
“So, the plan. Finish your story.”
Malik nods. “Ivan removes Charlotte from life and keeps her hidden. We wait for Massimo to lose his shit when he can’t find her and then go to him with a deal.”
“We wait!” Alessandro’s face is like thunder and Angelo says quickly, “We wait until the time is right. We have come so far, Alessandro. We are not about to go charging in and ruin everything. These things take time, and your involvement is needed to set Winter free more than anyone’s.”
“Then what are we waiting for?” Alessandro’s eyes flash with malevolence, mixed with impatience and I almost pity him when Angelo says darkly, “We need your grandfather and his army for this to work.”
As we all stare at Alessandro, the realization sinks in and I watch the defeat settle around him like an avenging angel claiming the soul who got away. He looks down and I wonder what’s running through his mind right now and as he lifts his face and looks around the group, I see a gritty determination that wasn’t there before.
“Consider it done.”
There are no words to offer to make this moment any better for him because we all know what Angelo has just asked. Gone is Alessandro’s freedom. His right to live a normal life. Now he must step up and return to his family. The most powerful Sicilian Mafia feared by every family in the world. Alessandro’s grandfather is the head of that and if he is going to grant us any favors, he will only accept a very good reason for that, and Alessandro is going to have to offer him the gift he has been waiting for.
His soul.
* * *