Page 136 of King of Obsession

His gaze narrowed. ‘The lab?’ He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers.

I braced. ‘All gone. Those who survived the night, including my sons, fled into the hills. We’re hunkering out in the wild for now.’

The man before me grimaced. ‘What happened to ‘Don, I’ll keep your investment safe and triple it?’From the sounds of it, you’ve lost control. Income is down; worse, the facility is lost. As well as soldiers. Some of those were my capos—good men.’

I flinched at the words, the truth of them cutting deep. ‘It’s all true,’ I admitted, just above a whisper, hating that I had to kowtow to this fucking shit. ‘But it’s not because of anything I did. It’s him—this fuckin’ Alessio guy. He’s been striking us like he’s always one step ahead.’

‘One man, causing all this carnage?’ The Don’s voice was laced with disbelief but also something more dangerous—anger. ‘How did you permit this to happen, Franco?’

I had an inkling.

I’d let my obsession withherdictate my life.

But fotto, why had this innocent, beautiful young woman I’d pursued with jewelry and cash, sparing no time, energy, or expense, never responded to me? Why had nothing worked? I’d even fuckin’ gone to jail for her.

I’d agonized in prison about her, the most alluring, perfect woman, my favorite Queen in Waiting.

Now, all that stood between her and me was some fuckin golden-haired lothario. Fuck that shit. She would be mine by nightfall tomorrow.

‘I’m sorry, boss. I underestimated the situation, but I won’t make that mistake again. I swear it.’

‘Who is he?’ the Don demanded. ‘The man who hit up the feds with intel about the farm?’

‘Not sure,’ I lied, aware of who the Calibrese head capo was. ‘But I need your blessing to obliterate him.’

Caputo’s favor would give me the sanction I needed to go after a made man in the hope of restoring my fortunes and reputation and my fuckin’ bride-to-be.

My voice wavered as I continued, ‘I’ll fix it. I’ll flush him out, take care of him once and for all.’

His eyes bore into mine, searching for any sign of weakness, any reason to doubt me. After a tense silence, he gave a single nod. ‘I grant you carte blanche. Do whatever it takes to get his head on a spike.’

‘Last, we need refuge in your estate to avoid the feds.’

Caputo scoffed. ‘You have to rectify your shit first before coming to lay more in my backyard. Go back to your farm and use it as a base. The cops are long gone. But Franco,’ his voice dropped to a chilling whisper. ‘If you fail or return here without finishing the job, don’t bother returning. Capisce?’

I nodded, feeling the cold sweat trickle down my spine. ‘I understand, boss. I won’t let you down.

‘Make sure that you don’t,’ he said, waving me away, dismissing me as if I were nothing more than a bothersome fly.

I stumbled out of the room, heart bitter, my legs weak with the weight of what lay ahead.

The bodyguards’ eyes followed me as I exited the estate, but I took no notice.

All I thought about was the promise I had just made to myself. Of the woman who was meant to be mine—and the grim certainty that if I failed, I wouldn’t live to regret it.

Chapter 29

ALESSIO

Midnight was cleaved by the distant roar of engines growing louder by the second.

I grabbed my gun and strode to the window.

Outside, the night was alive with chaos.

Dirt bikes and four-wheelers tore across the fence lines and the gate, their headlights cutting through the darkness.

I caught the shouts and whoops of the riders.

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