Page 115 of Not Mine to Keep

He swiped at his phone screen, opening an app. “You’re going to hear and see a lot out there in a minute. Just go with it. I don’t have time to explain it now, but it’s all part of the plan, I promise.” He shared the screen with me, revealing exterior security footage of the property.

Two unmarked vehicles were driving toward the front of the house. As the first one neared, I recognized Frankie behind the wheel, which meant Armani was most likely inside with him.

“My wife and Izzy are waiting in a secure location inside the home. Unfortunately, I do need to keep you upstairs for Armani to witness our arrests as well.”

“To make it less suspicious that we’re framing him?”

He nodded, then motioned toward the door with his gun. “But I’m keeping you back here until the Feds have Armani and Marcello pinned down and unarmed. I don’t want to risk you getting caught in the cross fire if they return fire. I don’t think they will, but I’d rather not take chances.”

Yeah, same.

“Next, the Feds will come for us as planned and walk us out cuffed, too.” He lifted his free hand, an apology in his eyes as he added, “I’m so sorry to do that to you, but it’ll keep you safe.”

I looked back at the app, seeing Frankie opening the door for Armani. “Why are you being arrested, too?”

“Because for the sake of appearances, when you married my son, we became in league with the DiMaggios. Armani can’t have any doubts who was behind his arrest. He can’t think it was our doing.”

I reached for his forearm. “I don’t want you having to do this.”

“You’re my son’s wife. That makes you family. And we stick together, got it?” He peered at me, a sad look in his eyes. “But don’t worry, my family will be cleared of any wrongdoing.”

Tears gathered in my eyes, and I let him go to try and get rid of them.

“It’s time,” he said.

I looked at the security app as multiple vehicles made their approach, a blur of red and blue flashing lights, converging on Armani’s parked SUVs.

Uncertain what Armani would do, I waited with a hand over my mouth. “He’s not resisting arrest.” At that realization, relief swelled in my chest, and my palm slipped back to my side.

I thought Marcello would be a question mark and fight back, but I could read the command on Armani’s lips to back off.

“Was that too easy?” I whispered.

“This isn’t their first time being arrested. He’s used to this,” he shared calmly. “But it’ll be his first time not being released, like normal.” At the sound of steps in the hallway growing closer, he quietly pocketedhis phone and unlocked the door. Two men in uniform, along with a man in a suit, were there waiting for us.

The suit gave my father-in-law a subtle nod as he accepted his 9mm. “Cuff them,” he ordered the uniformed officers.

Here we go.Never in a million years had I envisioned a moment like this in my life, that I’d be handcuffed.

My heart thundered in my chest as we were walked to the front of the house. The moment the door swung open and Armani saw me, he attempted to stand from where he’d been kneeling by the SWAT vehicle.

“Let her go,” Armani snarled, and two SWAT team members swooped in and shoved him back down. “She’s innocent.” I wasn’t sure if he genuinely gave a damn about me, but it didn’t matter. He wasn’t a good guy, and I’d never forget that.

The man in the suit removed what looked like a thumb drive from his pocket as we neared where Armani, Marcello, and now Gabriel were on their knees on the driveway. Leo and Frankie, along with two of Armani’s other men, were cuffed as well.

“Take them all in for questioning. See if the Costas are working with this asshole or not,” the Suit said, directing us closer to the squad cars and swarm of officers. “But you,” he went on, eyes on Armani, “are going to prison for the rest of your life once you’re back in Italy.” He waved the thumb drive near Armani’s face, then looked over at Marcello as if sending Armani a message, letting him know who betrayed him.

“It wasn’t me. He’s lying,” Marcello hissed, eyes going wide with alarm.

We stopped walking, but the uniformed officer kept hold of me at his side as we watched the scene unfold, and I had to remind myself this was all part of the plan.

“Marcello is right in a way. He didn’t give AISE the evidence on this drive,” the Suit said. “But your right-hand man has been feeding intel to the Barone family for years, and he was plotting to have your daughter marry into that family. He had a backdoor deal with them to run yourcompany once Rocco married your daughter. But things went sideways, didn’t they?” He shook his head. “Rocco sold you out, Marcello. A last-ditch effort to try and save himself after his father was killed.”

That was definitely a lie. Aside from the one video Rocco sent, no one had heard from him since. As long as Armani believed it, though, that was all that mattered.

“Because of your deal with Rocco, you wound up betraying yourself and your boss.” The Suit pocketed the thumb drive. “Take them away. All of them.”

“You lying son of a bitch.” Marcello attempted to stand, then his eyes shot to me. “This is your fault. You fucking bitch. You were supposed to die in the park that day, then none of this would’ve happened.”

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