Page 46 of Reign of Hope

Reno cuts to the chase. “Where do we find the elusive Wan Kwok?”

“He’s in Philadelphia territory, and we have to move fast. An unknown number has been calling Drake’s phone for hours. It could be Wan, and he could be spooked. I’m sending Ivo and our soldiers out to search the underground dive bar where he’s supposed to be staying,” Raffaele says.

“I’ll get the jet ready and bring Dante and Leo with me. Dante can see if he can trace the call from Drake’s phone, and I want to be there when we find the man who’s responsible for creating such upheaval in our lives,” Reno states.

“It’ll take hours for you to get here. We can’t wait that long,” Raffaele responds.

“Start your search. We’ll call when we land and meet you wherever you are.” Reno’s determined to be there, and for good reason. He never leaves anything undone or left to chance. He’s our capo, and he’s going to see this through to the end.

“Fine,” Raffaele concedes. “I have a feeling Alessio will be right behind you.”

“Probably. I’m calling him next.” Reno chuckles, then adds, “At least I’ll get to meet the famous Eros.”

“Yeah, no. When he accomplished his job, he walked out and told Nero he was going home and would be in touch. Fucking disappeared in a matter of minutes,” Raffaele tells us.

“That’s the way he works,” Nero replies, expelling a heavy breath. “He has his reasons.”

“Right. Gotta go get ready and make some calls,” Reno finishes and disconnects. He’s already dialing but calls out to me. “Call Leo. Tell him to get the jet ready, then tell him to pack because he’s coming with me. I want to be in the air in an hour.” He then speaks into the phone, and I can tell it’s Dante because he tells him to get packed and head over because they’re heading to Philadelphia. “And call Sebastian. He needs to know what’s happening.”

Once he’s off the phone with Alessio, I ask him, “Where do you need me?”

“Here. Sebastian is in charge until I’m back, and he’ll need you and Elio. Go home and keep your phone close,” he replies. Reno is stomping through the hall, and Samuele, hearing his father’s footsteps, comes running out to greet him. He scoops his son up in his arms, but his eyes are on Anna. “Dante and I will be back tomorrow latest. We’ll be in Philly.”

Anna doesn’t say a word, but her concerned expression says it all. Reno walks up to her and says in a determined tone, “I’m coming home.” Anna manages a grim smile, but this doesn’t ease the worry lines on her forehead.

Not long afterward, Dante is at the door, and he and Reno are meeting Leo at the private airport. Mom and Dad are staying with Elena while Dante’s away at his request. He doesn’t want Elena alone. Victorio is heading back to Leo’s home to keep watch with the other soldiers and ensure that Lucia is safe, and Sebastian has an army guarding Anna and his family.

It’s my decision to go home to my wife. Sebastian insists that I take some men with me to be on the safe side, and I readily agree. Not for me, but to ease his mind. I can protect my wife, but why upset Sebastian when he has so much on his mind?

Once we’re home, Ally drops wearily onto the couch. Neither of us got much sleep. I sit down next to her, gather her in my arms, and throw the blanket over us. I prop my feet on the coffee table, setting the phone down next to me. All I can do is wait.

What comes next is out of my hands, but whatever comes, Allegra and I will see it through together.

TWENTY-SIX

I’ll Find Him

NERO

“What do you mean he got away?” Marco exclaims angrily.

Only he, Luciano, and I are in the room, and this is the only reason I dare call him Dad. “Dad, Wan got away, but we wiped out his entire crew. It’s not anyone’s fault. Raffaele’s men were at every entrance and window. Wan had an escape plan just in case. Who the fuck would have guessed he’d climb into the sewers like a rat?”

“It doesn’t negate the fact that this man, Wan Kwok, walks free, and he’ll be back,” Marco grits through clenched teeth.

“We’ve got all his merchandise and the half million dollars he had hidden in the safe. His bosses aren’t going to be too pleased with him. He’s got nowhere to go and very few places to hide,” I remind him. “It’s only a matter of time till it all catches up with him.”

“I want him found!” Marco shouts, slamming his fist on the desk.

A knock on the door gets our attention as my father gruffly tells whoever is on the other side to come in. When Eros comes through the doorway, my father regains his composure and sits back in his chair.

`“You’ve come to collect your reward,” my father states plainly.

“That was the deal,” Eros replies, his piercing green eyes sharp on my father, his wavy dark hair messy, but that’s the way Eros is. His clothes have always been pristine, but his hair is his trademark look. He’s never cared to look like a businessman. Even in his dark Armani suit, he’s a cross between male fashion model and biker dude.

“Before you do that, I want you to take a look at this,” Marco says, tossing a file folder toward him.

Eros flips through the pages. “What? Are you pleading his case? He raped my sister, and despite that, he lives the good life, and my sister died by her own hand because she couldn’t live knowing Giusto was gloating over getting away with what he’d done.”

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