Page 104 of Not Mine to Keep

“You can always talk to me.” He slammed on the brakes when a Honda made an abrupt stop before us.

“You’re upset, and I’m shocked and confused. I guess I don’t even know where to begin,” I admitted before my stomach turned as he maneuvered around the next car going too slow for him. “So Gabriel has been working for Italian Intelligence undercover, and so is Leo.” I snagged the other details from memory I’d overheard from their call, wondering if I said it all aloud, it’d somehow make more sense. “Gabriel and Leo have been undercover for years, and that’s how Gabriel knew Constantine had been taken by Rocco four years ago. Someone at the agency is leaking intel to Rocco. It has to be someone at Italian Intelligence who’s unaware Gabriel and Leo are assets.”

I understood why he was driving so fast. My aunt’s life was on the line. Time was of the essence. But I grabbed hold of the oh-shit handle when he took a sharp turn around another bend. One thing was for sure, the man could drive.

“My contact at the CIA was able to corroborate Gabriel’s story,” he finally said, confirming he’d heard me. “The Agenzia Informazioni e Sicurezza Esterna—AISE—recruited Gabriel and Leo. Well, gave them no choice but to turn or face multiple life sentences in prison.”

“But the goal wasn’t to take down the DiMaggios? I’m so confused.”And nauseous from driving so fast.

“No, the mafia’s not who the AISE cares about. Their focus is on foreign problems. Given how many international business deals the DiMaggios are involved in, AISE wanted insiders in the DiMaggio organization to help take down bigger sharks.”

“Like Rocco?” I whispered, connecting the dots.

“Exactly. And it was Gabriel’s case officer in Rome that he met with three weeks ago, not Esposito.” There was relief in Alessandro’s tone thatGabriel hadn’t been the reason why those men had come for me in the park in Nashville.

And yeah, same. I didn’t want Gabriel to be evil. I just never suspected he’d been secretly working for Team Good Guy. “His case officer can’t be the mole at the agency leaking info to Rocco, because Rocco would’ve given up Gabriel’s name to Armani and Marcello.”

“Right, to protect an asset in the field, very few people will know their identity,” Alessandro quickly answered, and when we finally slowed down, I realized it was because we were in suburbia and passing houses. “Which means someone who is part of the task force to take down the Barones, both now and back then, is an insider for the Barones. But that person doesn’t know Gabriel and Leo are assets in the field.”

“You think whoever that person is also told Rocco you were coming for his father four years ago, and that’s how Rocco managed to get ahold of Constantine?”

He swung his focus my way, his jaw locked tight, and nodded. “Thankfully, Gabriel doesn’t know The League is monitoring the compound.”

“Which means the insider doesn’t know you’re aware of Rocco’s real location in Romania. But you don’t think Rocco will have his men bring my aunt there?”

“No.” He turned down another road and further reduced our speed. “He won’t expose his current compound, especially with his father on the verge of starting a new conflict in the Middle East.”

“So how will you track my aunt’s location and ID the inside traitor?”

“Because whoever at AISE miraculously gets intel on her whereabouts is the traitor, and instead of letting them know we’re onto them, we’ll send a team to that location while simultaneously hitting the compound in Romania.”

He stopped outside a gate, punched in a code, and then we began down a long driveway. A gorgeous home was at the end, and other cars were already parked out front.

“And you think Rocco won’t have her killed, not just because she’s bait but ...?” I couldn’t finish my words, too queasy from the thought and the drive to get it out.

“You really want me to answer that?”

Unbuckling, I closed my eyes and shook my head.Torture.The sadistic son of a bitch liked to torture people first. “But if he’s not the one who has her, because he’s in Romania, then what?”

At the feel of him squeezing both my hands, I opened my eyes to see him peering at me. “I’ll get her back alive. I promise you. The jet is being prepared as we speak. I’m leaving today.”

“I can’t ask you to risk your life to save her,” I sputtered, tears finally catching up with me as reality grabbed hold of me.

“I’m getting her back. Killing Rocco. And then my family will deal with the other problem.” He let go of one hand to palm my cheek.

The other problem ... killing Armani and freeing me from the prison of my bloodline. Right.

“My job isn’t done yet.”

“Your job?” I frowned.

“You know what I mean. I’m still in the habit of—”

“Trying to push me away?” My shoulders fell. “Well, just so you know, I don’t ever want you to be done with yourjob,” I whispered, and he caught a tear with the pad of his thumb. “I thought I made that clear last night.”

His throat bobbed from a hard swallow. “I know,” he began, his voice catching, “but maybe I needed to hear you say it one more time.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

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