Page 96 of Cardinal

Pouting up at me, Juliet huffed and closed her laptop begrudgingly. "I know… But I don't want to be useless to you. I feel like I have to do stuff. Otherwise, I'm just a moocher." She admitted with a sigh.

"Amorina, you are not useless, never. Don't worry about me or syndicate business because that is not your battle to be fought. Yes, you're associated through me, but we don't expect you to fully immerse yourself in it or anything. All we want is for you to live the life you want and to be happy, especially me. You want the degree in computer sciences, analytics, or whatever else you said, so get it." I would never ask her to be involved if I could help it. It weighed on me enough that I pulled her into this life, so the last thing I wanted to do was put her in the direct line of fire.

Humming softly, Juliet nodded at me before getting up and hugging me tightly. "Are we still going out tonight? Everything in order?" She questioned after peering up at me with hopeful, eager eyes.

Chuckling, I leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "Yes, everything should be good to go, but I was in the middle of finalizing everything when my accountant rudely interrupted me. So, be good, and don't do anything for the next two hours while I prepare with the others." Or at least behave as much as my little brat could.

Squealing happily, she eagerly nodded her head while bouncing on the balls of her feet. "Yes, sir." Giggling giddily, she jumped back onto the couch and bundled herself up in her blanket with a wide grin. "I'll just take a nap until we're ready to go."

With that much energy bouncing at her? Doubtful, but if she said so, then who was I to argue? Giving out a soft, mocking chuckle, I reached down to cup her face, leaning down and kissing her softly. "Sleep tight then, principessa." Again, I was very doubtful of her actually napping, but there was no point in engaging in a pointless back-and-forth with her right now.

Turning on my heel, I looked at her bundled form on the couch with an admiring smile before returning to my office, where the others still remained. "False alarm, nothing to worry about," I informed them with a dismissive roll of my eyes. "So sorry about that, but where were we?"

"Remember—"

"I know, I know, I know," Juliet cut me off with an annoyed scoff. "You've only said it the whole damn ride here. If anything goes wrong, shoot and speed on out of here. Don't try to play hero and go after you, don't leave the car unless you or one of the other Syndicate members come get me personally, and do not leave the car under any circumstances unless a bomb gets thrown into it. Oh, and don't leave the car."

Little smart ass.

If I wasn't on the clock, then I'd bend her over the center console right now and spank her ass red for being mouthy with me. Well, I could always do it later when we got home—if we could even stay awake that long.

Tonight was going to be a long one, from the raid to the fight right after, and we were probably all going to be dead tired by the time we got home tonight. One step at a time, though.

First order of business: Champion's Lounge.

With one final look and kiss of Juliet, I slipped out of the car and slipped my earpiece in. "Everyone check-in," I commanded after checking in myself.

The next minute flew by with a slurry of names being a constant flow into my ear as I strapped myself down with my weapons. "Alright, everyone ready?" Once I got a positive response from everyone, I rounded the car, gave Juliet one last longing look, and blew her a kiss with a wink, making her giggle and smile like a lovesick teen.

"Everyone get into position and wait for my signal." This operation would be nothing shy of perfect. We've gone over the plan and scenario so many times over the past few months, accounted for strays, and planned for those, too.

I knew how important it was to see this place fall for Juliet, and I didn't want to disappoint her. This place falling tonight would also be a huge message to everyone in the old mafia that even they're not truly safe from us and that they are next on our list. We have rid the city of the smaller rats and bugs over the past months, a tactical decision on our end in hopes of shaking up the old. The plan did work somewhat because we had a few crawl out of their dark corners to grovel at our feet. They were promptly taken care of once we wrung them of their use. Now, it was time for stubborn ones to go, the damn cockroaches.

Caroline Heral was one of the bigger names in the old mafia, so her falling tonight would serve as a blaring message to the others that their time was up. I intend on making a spectacle of her death tonight. Which brought my attention to my bodycam to ensure it was running. This whole thing would be recorded and played at tonight's fight event for everyone to see.

Don't fuck with The Syndicate. Don't fuck with me, Luciano Agosti. And most importantly, don't fuck with my wife.

Time to get rid of this splinter.

"Alright, everyone is in position and clear on their roles and plans?" One last check before we stormed the place and decimated it.

Once I got a positive response from everyone, I gave them the go-ahead with an unhinged grin on my face when the sounds of chaos ensued from the doors being kicked in from all sides.

"Round them up! And remember, Caroline is mine." None of my attention went to the chaos around me as I stalked my way through the place, pulling the trigger on anyone who got in my way in a semi-threatening manner.

"Carol! Come out and face the music of your doing!" I shouted down the hallway with a crazed grin when I caught sight of her frantic figure running for her office.

The flimsy door—it felt flimsy to me—stood no chance against my loaded kick that nearly sent it off the hinges. Three gunshots from me went off in succession with each other the second I entered the room, sending the three guards to the ground dead before they even had a chance to aim at me. "You know Carol, if you weren't so much of a snake, I might have let you live. Too bad you burnt any bridges between you and The Syndicate when I happened upon Juliet." I mused in a sarcastic voice.

"Luciano, come on, let's be reasonable. Killing me would be detrimental to you all, and it'll be seen as a huge betrayal. You've already made a lot of enemies with what you have all done in the past few months. So, be reasonable here. Besides, I can provide so many resources to you all." Her yapping excuses droned on and on, and I couldn't care less for them.

Annoyed with her pointless excuses as to why I should spare her pathetic life, I raised my voice at her, making her flinch and shut her mouth. "If you weren't a trafficker, then maybe I might consider it, but you know the rules, Carol. Don't try to deny it either. I know the truth." Slowly, I approached her with dangerous and calculated steps, glaring her down as I approached her like a lion would an injured prey. "This is the end of the line for you."

Lunging at her, I tackled her to the ground in one smooth movement, zip-tying her wrists and ankles before dragging her down to the main floor where some others were bound and gathered in a small group on the center stage. "You're lucky I'm not one to lay my hands on women, even if they are absolute scum." Unless I wanted my parents to rise from the dead to beat my ass and drag it Hell, I refused to risk it.

I was a gentleman of a mafia boss and reasonable to an extent. At least, I liked to see myself as so.

"If anyone tries anything, shoot them, but don't kill them. I'm going to get Juliet." I gave the order to everyone before shoving Caroline into the group of people and turning around to leave momentarily.

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