Boss (Chianti Kisses #2) (12 page)

CHAPTER TWELVE

Once a snake, always a snake.

That son-of-a-bitch is a dead man.

This is all the proof I need. He wants to pass himself off as an innocent bystander to that old fool Moretti, but I know better. I have everything I need to move forward against Rizzo with the commission’s blessing. The picture on my computer screen is the smoking gun.

He paid the photographer to trail V.

I end the phone call with Nick, assured that he’ll check into the shell company in Sacramento that supplied EJ with the cash to transfer to the photographer. I’m not sure there’s anything there. Hell, it’s probably just a front for EJ’s own stash of cash. But, I’d rather know for sure before I appear before the commissioners to ask for the clearance to take EJ out for good.

The photographer’s information was legit. I dial up Carmine’s cell and fill him in. “Cut him loose.” I instruct. “He gave me what we needed. I’ve got a pretty good resolution security camera still-frame of EJ making a cash wire transfer to the camera-man. I’ve got all I need. Send the guy home, Carmine, but make sure he’s clear on whose team he’s on now. Head back to the house right away. We’ve got some plans to make before we make our move.”

I can hear the disappointment in his voice. I know he was secretly wishing the man had provided us with false clues. “If you’re sure. I’ll let him go.”

“No sidetracking. Come straight back here.” I give final orders before disconnecting from the call.

The rest of my phone calls can wait until morning. At almost one in the morning, there isn’t much I can do about this tonight. I know I won’t be able to sleep, but, I can at least rest and plan out my next move.

I shut the laptop and turn the finger switch to the desk lamp, lowering the wattage to a soft dim. I travel up the spiral staircase, the wrought iron cold under my bare feet. Pushing the bedroom door open further, I see that V lies undisturbed from where I’d left her.

She remains that way as I slip in next to her.

~*~

The loud, hollow popping noise resonates through the dark, moonlit night. V and I bolt upright, jolted from sleep.

Was it a dream? Another one of her nightmares?

But, I heard it too. It was real.

Instinct sets in, I somehow know in every fiver of my being what the sound was. V is in a daze, eyes wandering around, lost, stunned, from her deep sleep. I throw myself from the bed, reaching blindly, deep into the bottom drawer of my nightstand. The cold, hard, steel of the hidden gun is lying in wait.

It hasn’t been touched in months, but it’s there for a reason. This moment was never supposed to come, but I always knew it was a possibility.

“Get down!” I call out to V, reaching and extending my arm to help her, pressing her forward. “Crouch down and crawl to this side of the bed.”

She does as she’s told, in shock, not registering the full weight of our situation. I crawl to my closet, slipping on a pair of jeans and sneakers. I don’t risk turning on a light, instead, I maneuver in the dark, my senses heightened on alert. I find the clip of bullets hidden deep behind a piece of luggage and snap it into the hollow handle of the killing machine in my palm.

I slap it hard, clicking it into place, and pull back on the barrel to engage the first bullet. It’s ready and I’m more than willing to use it if I have to. The initial gunshot is still ringing in my ears, but as I anxiously wait for a follow-up.

V is close, I can see her in the dark. “My robe!”

I see her start to raise herself to collect her draped satin robe from the sitting chair nearby.

“No! Stay down!” I push her down again. The windows along the far side of the room are large and I won’t risk her being a target of someone’s aim. Instead, I am in arm distance of my own heavy robe hanging in my closet. I tug hard on it, freeing it from the hanger that follows behind, dropping on the floor.

“Here! Put this on!” V takes the robe from me thankfully, covering up her flimsy nighty. I take a deep breath, grabbing her hand tight, and urge her to move toward the door. I follow immediately behind, waving the gun behind me, aimed at the windows to offer us cover from any threat as we exit the room in a hurry.

The packed house has been woken, moving around in a frenzy. John shields his family as we all rush down the stairs. The half-awake, terrified family members in bed clothes crawl around, following each other as we herd ourselves downstairs.

I have V’s hand tight in my own, and I quicken our pace to take lead of the group. Other than the sobbing of John’s frightened daughters, fear keeps everyone silent. The only lights in the house are coming from the kitchen. Jim barrels through the open door and meets us in the main foyer as I collect everyone together, making sure we aren’t missing anyone. Mike meets us from the family room, groggy and shell shocked.

“We’ve got to get everyone downstairs, Mr. D.” Jim ushers us, pointing in the direction of the basement stairs.

“What the hell was that noise, Jim?” I ask my head of security quietly as not to further scare the children.

I help person after person to the doorway of the staircase in the dark. Momma is holding closely to Nonna, talking in hushed voice to help guide her as they blindly move through the shadows.

“Terrence was making his normal patrol along the western perimeter. He found the back service gate open, with a pair of bolt cutters on the ground. He pursued, and the perp shot at him.” The retired police captain provides me an explanation.

He moves with me as we take up the rear, escorting my family to safety. His firearm is drawn, with the two of us guarding the most valuable things in this house… my family.

“I’ve got twelve men out there, working in a grid to box him in. He was last seen near the potting shed on the far side of the garden. The dogs were just released, and they’ve picked up a scent.” He finished his update as John corrals the group from the lead in to the hidden wall panel near the billiard table in the rec room.

One by one, they disappear into the recessed opening, women and children first. The Lombardi brothers collect near the entrance helping their mother, sister, wives, and children inside.

Once the secret panic room is full with the lot of them, Jim steps back to keep watch of the hidden depths of the empty basement. V carefully pushes her way back through the crowd to the doorway.

“Dom! Please! Come in with us. I-you… please….”

Her eyes are wide, her pupils huge, adjusted to the darkness. “V, I’ll be back as soon as I can. I need you to stay here with Momma.” She starts to panic at my words, realizing that I won’t be with her. “Do
not
open this door under
any
circumstances. When everything is over, I’ll come get you. I swear.”

I know I don’t have much time. I need to get this door closed with them all safely behind it. I pull her into me, pressing her into a kiss. I pray this isn’t the last time I see my wife, but I won’t risk not kissing her one last time in case I’m wrong. I show no trace of my creeping doubt.

She grabs hold, tight, not willing to release me as I steal my lips away. “No! Dom- you can’t. I won’t let you.”

Voices from the main floor waft down to us and all of our eyes divert to the stairway. We’ve run out of time. I need to get that door shut. I hand my gun cautiously to Tony. His eyes not registering the intent behind my actions.

“Shoot if you need to. Don’t second guess anything. You aim for the head.” I advise him.

He studies the gun, clearly not comfortable with a firearm. “Dom! No, bro. I’m going with you guys,” he fights me.

I stare him down, there’s no time to argue both him
and
my wife. The Lombardi’s can be stubborn people. I pull out the one thing that I know will work. It just happens to also be the truth.

“Tony. You need to protect my wife. You need to protect your daughter, and your own wife. I’m trusting you with my everything.”

He’s silent, he knows there’s no way he can let me down when I need him most. He nods, swallowing hard. V watches our exchange, knowing that it will directly affect her.

I turn to my wife. “I’ll be back, V. I swear.”

I pull myself from her clutch, just as Tony grabs hold before she lunges to reclaim me. I turn fast and force myself with everything I have not to look back. I know Tony would give his life for her, and he’ll protect her with his last breath if need be. That’s all I can ask for right now.

I can hear her screaming and calling out to me, begging me to return. The door is finally closed, with her pleas disappearing being the reinforced safety door. She’ll hate me for leaving her, I know. But I’d hate myself for staying.

This is our home, those are my loved ones. I’ll gladly die to protect them if I have to, but I pray God will take mercy and let me see my wife again.

~*~

VINCENZA

He left me here.

He actually left me here.

I know he must be long gone by now, charging head first into the danger that has taken over our home, but I continue to pound my closed fists against the door, regardless. John’s kids are wailing, terrified behind me in the confines of the secure panic room. The adults are quiet, their hushed soothing tones trying to calm the children. I know my behavior is making that harder for them, but all sense of reason has left. It disappeared with Dom when he left.

My hands are numbing, my throat coarse from sobbing incoherently. My body shakes in uneven tremors and I can feel all eyes on me. The low wattage of the interior lights in the huge closet-like structure isn’t ideal for most circumstances, but in this moment I’m thankful for imperfect lighting to hide my tear swollen face.

I know I’m acting like a child. I know I should be stoic and strong, like Momma, or Aunt Rosie, Mary or even Cecily. They’re holding it together. They’re not losing their minds. But they also don’t have their husband on the other side of this door risking his life. John is here, holding his wife and their children. Tony is here holding his newborn daughter while keeping Cecily close. Even Mike is here comforting our mom.

The only people in this room that can even remotely begin to understand the gravity of the pressure threatening to crush my heart are Aunt Rosie, Theresa, and Nonna. Dom may be my blood through sacred wedding vows but he is their Dom, too. He is their heir, their son, and brother.

Theresa steps forward to reach out to me, and I gratefully step into her arms. We may have had some small issues lately, but it’s nothing, all forgotten, now.

“I know, V. I know.” She lets me lean in to her for support. “He’ll be back. I know it. My brother is the strongest, bravest man I’ve ever met. He’s waited his whole life for you, and I know he’s not going to give it up that easily.”

My tears are drying. Not from a change of heart, but because my body is wiped out. I have nothing left to give, I’ve cried everything I have.

“He needs you to be brave, V. He needs you to be strong for him. He knows you can do that. There’s no way he could bear to think of your heart breaking in here, so you’ve got to hold it together.” Her words begin to ring true to my ears, my heart.

She’s right. Dom and I have a kismet connection. I can feel what’s in his heart and I know he can feel mine. I can’t risk him being distracted right now, thinking about little helpless me in here. I’m better than this. He deserves more of me than this.

I suck back my tears, breathing deep to allow a strong resolve to wash over. I can do this. Even if I’m just faking it, I can do this. There will be time to cry later.

~*~

“Here Momma,” I hand over the rolled blanket.

The bunker isn’t large, wasn’t exactly intended to have this many people inside at one given time. But, it’s well stocked. Between the bunk beds in the back, and the sofas and the recliner in main living area, I’ve managed to set everyone up with a sleeping area. I know sleep won’t come easy to anyone tonight, but they all need rest and the children will be calmer if we’re all settled in.

I’ve only been down here in the panic room twice before. Once when it was being constructed, a few months after my dad died. Dom’s dad had the construction project completed rather quickly. Curiosity had gotten the best of Theresa and I one night and we had crept down here to check it out.

We had even started to play house in the apartment-like structure. Dom’s mom caught us after we had been missing for a few hours and given us quite an ear-full about the seriousness of the room. We avoided the place like the plague after that, not wanting to anger Aunt Rosie any further.

The second time I walked through that door was right before the wedding. The movers were bringing most of my things here from my apartment. Dom thought that it was important enough to show me the room again and give me the security codes and lockdown instructions. He assured me over and over again that it would never be necessary to use, but better safe than sorry. 

This room is as fortified as an army bunker is. It can withstand a direct blast and can become completely self-sufficient with its own electric and water filtration pumps. There’s a pantry full of food and some small comforts. Internet access, phone lines and basic television are available. At this late hour, I know we’d all rather the quite, though.