“I’ll help you, but you’ve got to help us,” I say to him.
“I’m with you. Your brothers can’t do this to me and my men. We’re trying to be better than Gio because the men don’t want more of the same.” The way his bloodshot eyes look into mine, I believe him.
“It appears my brothers have been double dealing for some time. I’m sure Dad taught them all the tricks of the trade.” I look up to Sal who throws his head to one side in agreement.
“Angelo,” I whisper, “is Sofia with the girls?”
“I think so,” he mumbles as he struggles to stay conscious.
20
Sal
We wait in the shadows of the trees and due to the cloud covering, the humidity is building up. I’m keenly aware of Francesca crouching next to me as we are peering through the trees outside the wine cellar, but It’s the quiet before the storm that will rage inside those walls tonight if everything goes according to plan.
Lady luck is on our side tonight when the sky opens, a light rain at first then, a downpour. The men on guard go inside to dry off and grab warm coffee on the top floor of the house and in the yard.
It’s approaching midnight and we use this as our opportunity to sneak out of the wine cellar weaving in and out of cars.
“Is this a convention?” Francesca asks with sarcasm in her voice.
“Appears to be a coup if you ask me,” I reply, drawing my weapon.
Francesca’s is out as we move along the tree line behind a long driveway and hope no one notices us as we approach the pool area.
The rain in my face is running into my eyes and it clouds my vision momentarily.
“Are you okay?” I ask Francesca but knowing better—she’s such a phenom.
“Yeah, fine.” As she slides her knife back into the holder on her belt to help hold Angelo with both hands.
My cell phone vibrates as we reach the pool area.
We park Angelo on a recliner where he passes out.
“Pronto.” I listen then hang up. “Everyone is in place to hijack and torch the trucks with Angelo’s stolen coke. That will effectively fuck over Mario and Fausto.” I look up to Francesca. “Do you have a problem with that?”
“It’s never easy with family, but we have to do what we must to survive tonight. They forced our hand, and I can’t walk away.” Her voice conveys the sadness of a woman who is loyal but knows she has to do what must be done to stop them in order to save her friend and the girls.
“My brothers will create a diversion, and that way, we’ll be able to get out of here,” I say.
She nods with a sigh of relief.
“We definitely need them. We only have so many bullets,” I mutter.
“It’s a brilliant plan, Sal.” She leans her head into my face in her relief and we share a tender kiss before she moves away, whipping out her laptop.
I love how her mind works. It’s chilling she’s so well versed in this life but it’s the biggest fucking turn on I’ve ever encountered.
I text Dante, giving him the game plan. We’ll free Angelo’s men when we’re sure they’re on our side, or when we need more fire power. Until then, they can wait.
“Once my brothers send everyone out to the truck fires he’ll be left with a skeleton crew. Dante and Marchello can breach this place,” Francesca says as she crouches with her techie software behind a lounge chair. “I’ll be taking their security system and communications off-line now.” She taps the computer key extra hard.
“You’re so fucking brilliant.” My devilish grin might not be seen in the darkness that surrounds the glow of the pool light, but things are going to get hotter around here, and for once, it’s not because Francesca and I are in close proximity to each other.
21
Francesca